Artists in Warwickshire Education and Trees are Green Ltd are working together to establish Warwickshire’s first creative recycling centre for schools, pre-schools, further education and community groups.
The vision was inspired by visits to the Remida Creative Recycling Centre in the municipality of Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy. At Remida discarded objects are received, displayed and offered in a sort of emporium or ‘warehouse of wonders’
CREATES is a new, optimistic and pro-active way to approach environmentalism and build change, exploiting reject materials, faulty products and otherwise worthless objects to foster new opportunities for communication and creativity in a perspective of respect for objects, the environment and human beings. It is collaboration between the world of industry, commerce, public authorities, educational services and the world of art, culture and environmental agencies.
Trees are Green Ltd
Over 14 years ago, Director of Trees are Green Ltd , Mark Saunders started to look at ways of reducing the environmental impact of the company he was then working for, and soon became the company environmental champion. He was quickly struck by the scope CREATES offered for specialist recycling, reprocessing and waste reduction, with a genuine commitment to the environment. By working with Artists in Warwickshire Education, an LEA service to schools, he could support a sustainable initiative with long term impact on industry and learning communities.
Artists in Warwickshire Education
A Warwickshire Local Education Authority arts and education service available to all LEA schools. Providing high quality learning experiences for both children and adults, Artists in Warwickshire education works in partnership with performance and visual artists and arts organisations throughout the West Midlands and beyond.
Aims
Promote environmental care education throughout Warwickshire schools and community groups.
Promote the idea that waste products can be raw materials for the education, arts and crafts and creative industries.
Promote waste reduction, re-use and recycling throughout the local business and industry sector
Promote creativity, arts and crafts, throughout the Warwickshire area.
Create links with non arts organisations e.g. Imagineering
CREATES Pilot Project 11th – 15th April 2005
The pilot week was organised by Artists in Warwickshire Education as an opportunity for teachers and children to explore the potential in recycled materials. Trees are Green Ltd supplied a wide range of clean and interesting items that industries have thrown out as waste. During the week groups of children visited the CREATES centre at Playbox Theatre, The Dream Factory in Warwick to work with artists Michaela Macmillan and Roz Ingram. The theme for the project was the Hans Christian Anderson version of The Little Mermaid, which was being shown at The Dream Factory.
Teacher quotes from the day.
A big thank you for organising such a wonderfully inspiring and creative afternoon. The children have enjoyed looking back at the photos taken and the artwork has been displayed for both parents and children to appreciate.
The way the materials and ideas were presented fired them up straight away and they could not wait to get started! While safety aspects were clearly explained, the children were not afraid to experiment with all manner of materials and techniques. They were guided but allowed to freely explore the great wealth of the materials available. Children were encouraged to talk about their work, sketch ideas and had their work photographed and displayed. They all felt their work was worthwhile and very valued.
Support for CREATES
“ We wholeheartedly support a Creative recycling Centre. Having visited Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy and seen one there in full use, and then seen the stunning work created by schools and students from the industrial waste materials, I cannot speak highly enough of this initiative for Warwickshire”
I am pleased to inform you that you have our wholehearted support for this. We will do all we can to draw it to the attention of out staff and children, thereby encouraging a positive attitude towards the importance of recycling”
“To have a resource such as this available to art teachers and other interested parties, whilst emphasising the value of recycling to children, can only help to promote a positive attitude towards recycling and recycled goods”
“As a class teacher we, with most of my colleagues, can see learning opportunities in almost every resource. With fewer constraints of cost we can allow children to experiment freely and develop creative ideas in more exciting ways”
I think this is a brilliant initiative and one that most schools will welcome. Not only will it be a very useful resource for teachers and students, it is putting into practice the need for the promotion of positive attitude towards recycling and recycled goods”