Europe’s “Youth Art for the Earth” transforms cities through street art and environmentalism – and releases open-source curriculum

December 16, 2024 — A bold initiative blending creativity with environmental advocacy, Youth Art for the Earth (YAFE) concludes two years of engaging 120 young people across Europe to address ecological challenges through community-driven street art and educational workshops.

With a legacy of six murals across three countries, plus a documentary film and an open-source educational curriculum released today, YAFE was spearheaded by Serbian humanitarian and educational non-profit Fund B92 in Belgrade and co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.

“Youth Art for the Earth has been a remarkable journey of creativity, learning, and collaboration,” said Nebojša Glišić, YAFE Project Coordinator on behalf of lead partner Fund B92. “We engaged 120 young people across three countries to explore the vital intersections of art and environmental activism, and we’ve transformed urban spaces into vibrant expressions of hope and change.”

A trailer for the film, Dreaming of a Greener Future: One Wall at a Time, was released today ahead of submissions to international film and arts festivals.

Maziar Bahari, founder of the Paint the Change street art and social change charity, which also supported the YAFE project, said: “Paint the Change has produced hundreds of workshops around the world. We’ve noticed that young people understand issues much better in art workshops than in reading books or simply listening to their teachers. Drawing, painting, and sketching ideas that become large murals and landmarks in their neighbourhoods, give young people a sense of agency and ownership, and motivates them to be more proactive.”

“We are delighted that Youth Art for the Earth has taken this to the next level across Europe,” he added.

New Curriculum Combines Environmental Education and Creativity

A groundbreaking education guide by educator Aleksandar Weisner, Youth Art for the Earth: A Creative Guide to Environmental Education and Activism, is now available for free online to inspire young people to address ecological challenges through art and activism, using versatile framework combining street art, multimedia resources, and interactive workshops to foster critical thinking, creativity, and active citizenship.

Bor & Pančevo, Serbia: Envisioning a sustainable future 

Imagining their city 50 years into the future, students from Bor Technical School collaborated with artist Maja Stojanović Zmaja to create a mural addressing themes of recycling and species protection.

“After this workshop, I’m much more aware of how much we’re harming our planet. I used to have a neutral opinion about everything, like pollution levels, the state of our planet. I knew it was bad, but I thought I had no influence. Now, I realize that I do have a voice, and every voice is important,” said school pupil Sara Jovanović, who participated in the Pančevo workshops and murals.

“We wanted the students to think abstractly about the future of their environment,” added Aleksandar Weisner, a teacher at the school. “The resulting mural reflects their vision of a cleaner, greener world, where local ecosystems thrive and the community embraces sustainable practices.”

Maribor & Ljubljana, Slovenia: Artistic responses to ecological crises 

In Slovenia, Maribor students celebrated biodiversity with “Birds from the Island”, while a project in Ljubljana emphasized teamwork to combat environmental crises. Using sustainable materials, students collaborated with artists Fedja Šičarov and Paolo Spinazzé to create works that inspire reflection and action.

“These events highlight the urgency of addressing climate change and protecting our natural world,” Šičarov said. The mural combines a variety of artistic styles, including Art Nouveau and pop art, to represent the evolution of industrialization, consumer culture, and digital pollution.

“It was my first time doing something like this, and I found the workshop to be very informative. It taught us a lot about our local environmental concerns and how they can be represented through street art,” said Anja Vizjak, a student at SŠOM and Maribor workshop participant.

Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, France: A celebration of diversity 

Illustrator Elsa Martino collaborated with students from Joséphine Baker Middle School to create a vibrant mural on the universal impact of climate change. “The goal was to show that the environment is a universal concern,” Martino said.

Workshops led by Martino and climate trainer Chloé Chesnau fostered students’ creativity and awareness, culminating in a mural that celebrates ecological awareness, diversity and the need for collective action.

Montargis, France: Changing habits for a healthier environment 

Amid severe air quality challenges, students in Montargis tackled the issue of pollution with street artist Atma. The resulting mural, situated near a major highway, emphasizes the importance of clean air and eco-friendly habits.

“Art has shown me the power of conveying messages. Workshops like this are invaluable for spreading awareness,” said Liaam, a student at the school.

Visit paintthechange.me for examples of past projects and multimedia content, or reach out to collaborate at be@paintthechange.me

Co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.

      

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Opening of a YAFE mural entitled Birds from the Island in Maribor

In Ljubljana, Cibo created a new mural with the motif of packaging and food.

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