transformArt Upcycling Festival Bad Doberan

transformArt - education for sustainability through upcycling art and crafts

transformArt is a new, multi-day festival in Bad Doberan that combines art, crafts, education and sustainability. The aim is to create a public, interactive forum in which children, young people, adults, artists and experts can get creative together, learn from each other and gain global perspectives on consumption, resources and the environment.

Basic idea

transformART addresses one of the most pressing problems of our time: the destruction of the environment through overproduction, a throwaway mentality and the ever-increasing consumption of resources. Our festival focuses on the transformative power of art and handicrafts - especially upcycling - to promote a more conscious use of materials and make sustainable solutions tangible.

In doing so, we bridge the gap between the traditional techniques of indigenous communities in the Global South and current approaches to modern sustainability. Upcycling is not a new fad: in many cultures, reuse has a centuries-old tradition. We want to make this perspective visible and combine it with contemporary art and educational work.

Content & formats

transformAR is designed as a festival and workshop series and offers a diverse program:

• Workshops: Artists from the region and international contexts invite you to participate in practical hands-on activities. New works of art and everyday objects are created from disposable materials - from upcycling jewelry, glasswork, printing techniques and paper objects to kites made from old materials or papier-mâché vases.

• Discussion round: Experts talk about sustainability, waste avoidance and creative reuse of materials and provide inspiration for schools, clubs and companies.

• Exhibition & presentation: The resulting works are shown to the public and encourage conversations about materials, technology and global connections.

• Accompanying activities in public spaces: Activities such as joint kite flying on the festival meadow make transformArt visible and create encounters between artists, participants and passers-by.

Global perspective

The issues of overproduction, resource consumption and waste are global challenges. While the majority of consumption and production takes place in the countries of the Global North, many countries of the Global South bear the ecological and social costs - for example through exported electronic waste, textile waste or the extraction of raw materials under exploitative conditions.

WithtransformArt, we make these connections tangible and show alternatives. The workshops and discussions establish a direct link to indigenous knowledge and sustainable craft techniques. By making traditional practices visible and developing them artistically, we contribute to global educational justice and the appreciation of often marginalized knowledge.

Target groups

TransformART is aimed at:

• Children and young people who want to discover new craft and artistic skills through play.

• Adults who want to learn about sustainable production and consumption methods.

• Artists, educators and environmental activists who want to integrate upcycling methods into their work.

• Citizens and tourists who can spontaneously participate in open activities and gain insights.

This diversity enables encounters and dialog at eye level - between generations, between cultures and between experts and laypeople.

Artists and workshops

The festival thrives on the expertise of dedicated artists and workshop leaders:

• Susanne Gabler (printing workshop - water worlds and Tetra-Pak printing)

• Rosana Pérez (papier-mâché "15 trees" - paper, forests, indigenous knowledge)

• Takwe Kaenders (Drawing & Moods "Waste paper meets pen" - inspired by Louise Bourgeois)

• Annett Oberländer (Jewelry upcycling - jewelry made from everyday materials)

• Olaf Giertz (Glass in a new form - glasses, figures and drops made from used glass)

• Rosana Pérez, Jana Stubbenhagen-Henrichs & Paul Busch (kite making from upcycling materials and kite flying action on the festival meadow)

All workshops combine handicraft techniques, artistic expression and global sustainability issues.

Effects

TransformART aims to:

• Raiseawareness of sustainable production and consumption practices.

• Promote upcycling as an effective way of reducing waste and extending material life cycles.

• Share knowledge about techniques that originate from indigenous contexts and integrate modern approaches.

• Build community between artists, environmental activists and citizens.

Participation in workshops, discussions and actions leads to tangible results: new skills, creative products, expanded networks and a tangible change in perspective on materials and consumption.

Venues & atmosphere

TransformART takes place at various locations in Bad Doberan:

• LOTTE Upcycling Workshop (workshops & lectures)

• Kunsthof Bad Doberan (exhibition & exchange)

• Festival meadow between the monastery and soup kitchen (activities in public spaces, kite flying)

In this way, the entire cityscape becomes a space for learning and meeting.

Sustainability & education

The festival sees itself as a learning laboratory for sustainable development. It practically demonstrates how art and crafts can conserve resources, extend life cycles and make global connections visible. It inspires the transfer of creative solutions into everyday life and work and contributes to the dissemination of methods and concepts that will endure beyond the festival.

Organization & sponsors

TransformART is a project of elements. Bildung und Kultur in der Einen Welt e.V. / LOTTE Upcycling Werkstatt in Bad Doberan. The association has been active in intercultural educational and cultural work since 2011 and has extensive experience in sustainable projects, international cooperation and the communication of global issues.