10 Jun ART747-How are artists engaging the public in a wider discourse around environment and well-being? A Welsh perspective.

1. The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) – Machynlleth, Wales

While not strictly an artistic project, many Welsh artists collaborate with CAT to create installations and events related to environmental conservation. For instance, workshops held there use recycled materials to engage local communities and raise awareness about sustainability issues. Exhibitions and projects, such as multimedia installations powered by renewable energy, encourage visitors to reflect on their everyday consumption habits.

2. Tŷ Pawb – Wrexham, Wales

Tŷ Pawb (House for Everyone) is an arts, market, and community hub that frequently hosts exhibitions focused on mental health and well-being in the context of the environment. One such project, “Wellbeing through Nature”, combined visual art with gardening workshops and mindfulness sessions. Participants were invited to co-create artworks inspired by the local landscape, promoting ecological awareness and emotional well-being.

3. Articulture – Outdoor Arts and Festivals

Articulture, an organization supporting outdoor arts in Wales, engages artists and audiences in discussions about the environment and climate change. Projects like “Emergence Land Journey” combined performances, walks, and workshops conducted in rural settings, encouraging participants to reflect on their relationship with nature. These activities not only raise awareness of environmental protection but also promote physical and mental health through direct engagement with the natural world.

1. Foraging as Art: Monika Kucia’s Projects (Poland)

Monika Kucia, a Polish artist and curator, runs educational and artistic projects that combine wild edible plants with culinary culture. Her workshops and installations, such as “Forest Kitchen”, encourage participants to discover edible plants in their local environment and use them creatively in the kitchen, while promoting the ideas of sustainability and waste minimization.

2. “The Edible Bus Stop” (UK)

This project transforms public spaces into edible urban gardens. As well as promoting local food, the project highlights the importance of reducing waste by reusing urban spaces for food production. The initiative encourages communities to plant and grow plants together, including wild species, which supports environmental awareness and improves the availability of healthy food.

3. Slow Food Campaigns (Global, including Wales)

The Slow Food movement has a number of initiatives in Wales that focus on promoting local produce and traditional methods of growing and processing food. One project is the ‘Ark of Taste’, which protects local, rare ingredients and culinary traditions, encouraging communities to use them, while minimising waste in the food production and consumption process.

4. “Zero Waste Cooking School” – Max La Manna (Global, including UK)

Chef and author Max La Manna runs workshops and educational programmes teaching people how to cook in a zero-waste way. His projects promote using all parts of ingredients, from stems to skins, as well as experimenting with wild plants such as dandelion, nettle and wild garlic. This approach not only reduces food waste but also raises awareness of the value of wild plants.

5. “Wild Food Café” – London

This restaurant promotes the use of wild plants in cooking and educates its customers about their benefits. The menu includes dishes made with ingredients such as wild berries, nettle leaves and nasturtium flowers, and the restaurant itself organizes workshops that show how to collect wild ingredients in a way that respects the environment.

6. “Incredible Edible” – Todmorden, UK

The community initiative “Incredible Edible” transforms public spaces into free food gardens for all. In addition to locally grown vegetables and fruit, the project promotes the use of wild edible plants, educating local residents about their nutritional value and preparation methods. The initiative is also inspiring other cities to do the same.

7. “Wild Pickings” – Wales

The “Wild Pickings” initiative offers workshops and educational walks that teach participants how to identify and use wild plants in the kitchen. The project highlights the link between wild plants and sustainable living, and supports zero waste by showing how to use all parts of plants.