ECo-art workshops at the great tapestry of scotland

The Youth Climate Action Fund supported two Eco Art workshops at the Great Tapestry of Scotland, each booked to capacity with 20 young participants (ages 6–12) plus their parents and carers.

The theme of the workshops was “Funky Fish” with participants being encouraged to think about linking creativity with environmental education. There were two strands to this: firstly, engagement with the circular economy of reuse; and secondly, to learn about the effects of climate change on ocean health. Thus, alongside creative inspiration, they were taught about climate change, overfishing, sustainable fishing, and the benefits of recycling. Participants all brought a small bag of recycled materials to use in their art and they did really well, as the families collectively reused 3kg of plastic, cardboard, and paper that may otherwise have gone to landfill!

The creative reuse of materials was inspiring to see. Parents and children worked side-by-side, sparking dialogue about environmental issues at home. The Great Tapestry are considering introducing a series of seasonally themed creative workshops following the success of these initial workshops.