Educational Program
Learning differently: art as a tool for transformation
Our educational programme combines contemporary art and environmental science to raise awareness among young people about ecological issues. Through a variety of formats, our workshops offer a sensory, critical and creative experience of urban nature.
Our workshops take place in primary school classrooms in the canton of Geneva, where we aim to develop a sustainable initiative that raises awareness of environmental issues through art. This is achieved through participatory workshops in the classrooms and a traveling group exhibition that moves from school to school.
Occasional off-site workshops are also organized by our facilitators.
Current programmes
Duchamp au Jardin: workshops on urban biodiversity, collective exhibition in schools
Duchamp au Lac: workshops and educational file on aquatic ecosystems, inspired by the Beyond Water Biennale
Public workshops: summer at the Bains des Pâquis, festivals, outdoor activity centres, Biennale (re)connecting.earth
Vernissage at École des Ouches, 2024. Image: Lisa Frisco.
Our educational pillars
Exploring the interdependencies between humans and non-humans
Experimenting through the body and the imagination
Producing works-instructions that encourage action
This project brings together the environment and contemporary art for young children by taking our workshops directly into elementary schools.
How to take part in our workshops?
To register your school, you need a minimum of four interested classes (5-8P). Our facilitators will come and lead 3 x 2 sessions of 45 minutes in the classroom and, weather permitting, outside. Workshops 1 and 2 are held one week apart and introduce the concept of instruction-artworks by Swiss and international artists that raise young people's awareness of the environment. We then take a break of two to three weeks to give the children time to create their own instruction-artworks in class or with the help of their arts and crafts teacher. Session 3 is a presentation of their works in class, with our facilitators, and a closing animation of the workshop.
Afterwards, if the school wishes, the four classes (or more) can enjoy a vernissage organized within the school, with the possibility of inviting the students' families.
This exhibition will bring together the works created in class and one of our exhibition kits—Duchamp au Jardin or Duchamp au Lac, depending on the workshop attended.
These kits include six instructions covered during the workshops, scientific contributions written in collaboration with Pro Natura and the Association pour la sauvegarde du Léman, informative elements on nature in urban environments (including a section specific to the canton of Geneva), as well as fun content specially designed for young audiences.
The exhibition can be presented at the school for a period of 3 to 4 weeks.
This program was developed in collaboration with the Department of Public Instruction (DIP). art-werk is collaborating on this project with local partners, mainly schools and colleges, as well as associations active in environmental protection and sustainability, universities and colleges of higher education.
Any questions?
- Do you have a class in a primary school in Geneva and would like to host workshops at your school?
- Would you like to receive our complete teaching document?
- Would you like to learn more about the program?
- Your school is not in Geneva, but you would still like a workshop to be held there?
- Would you like to organize an out-of-box workshop?