NEWSLETTER
WELCOME TO ARTCYCLING! People and things deserve a second chance. That is why the ARTCYCLING project is here, to create chances: •
A chance for artists from vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, especially those with disabilities to make a living from what they love most, the art
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A chance for objects to get a second life after the first one has already finished and they got discarded
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A chance for the society to care better for one thing that we all share, the planet Earth.
Through this first Newsletter we want to introduce you to this innovative project that has started last spring.
Enjoy your reading!
The project has been funded with support from the European Union. This communication reflects the author’ views only and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
NEWSLETTER I - DESIGN DESIGN
Who We Are The ARTCYCLING project was born thanks to four European organizations that joined forces to make it possible and which together reflect the geographical and cultural diversity of European Union- Non Continental Europe is represented by United Kingdom, Mediterranean Europe by Spain, Eastern Europe by Hungary and, last but not least, Northern Europe by Denmark. It is essential for us that the consortium reflects the European value of the project, allowing the promotion of transnational cooperation and stimulating interest for joint artistic and cultural creations. The constellation of partner organizations was carefully created in order to cover all the organizational and quality requirements to respond to project’s purposes. Pacificstream (http://www.pacificstreamenterprise.co.uk/) specializes in training and consulting services in the arts industry. Retextil (http:// retextil.hu/) is an expert in upcycled art creation in the context of empowerment of the disadvantaged persons. Cultura 21 Nordic (http:// cultura21.dk/) is a part of an international network of organizations which focuses on the sustainable projects’ creation, mainly in the framework of urban change and cultural and social innovation. INTRAS Foundation (http://www.intras.es/) has a solid experience in the field of European projects aimed at promoting cultural inclusion of individuals with mental illness and young people with special needs or behavioral disorders.
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NEWSLETTER I - DESIGN DESIGN
Recycling VS Upcycling Before we enter the ARTCYCLING world it is convenient that we understand the difference between the recycling and the upcycling.
“Recycling, I call it down-cycling. They smash bricks, they smash everything. What we need is up-cycling, where old products are given more value, not less.� Chris Steel
The sentence of Chris Steel, in just a few words allows comprehending the essence of the contrast between these two concepts. In other words we call it recycling when we lengthen the time span before a product or material becomes a waste, by letting it be used once again, as what they are, or as raw material for new, similar products. Meanwhile, upcycling is when we treat an object in a way that enhances its material quality or transform it towards raw resource to be used in new, different products- we are moving value up the stream in the circle. This is an action that not only prolongs the life of a product but also captures qualities of the material and takes them up the value chain.
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NEWSLETTER I - DESIGN DESIGN
The ARTCYCLING concept
ARTCYCLING project will mix the use of new technologies, wasted materials, traditional handcraft and social and environmental responsibility in the creation of a new business model for vulnerable artists that will become artcyclers. They will be trained in the use all of these ingredients to create upcycled, fresh and decorative art objects ready to exhibit, sell and enjoy. The ultimate aim of the project is to create a cooperative of artcyclers with an online catalogue of decorative arts.
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NEWSLETTER I - DESIGN DESIGN
The Project’s Take off The project officially commenced last June 2015 in Valladolid, Spain. The representatives from each partner organizations gathered for a two days meeting to better know each other and to define the work program for the project. Over this fructiferous meeting new ideas arose and the partners from Retextil, Pacificstream and Culture21 sized this opportunity to visit INTRAS facilities and workshop studios where they met INTRAS craftsmen and got to know their work.
Later on, last September the Art directors of each organization met in PĂŠcs, Hungary- at Retextil facilities- to share their ideas about upcycling and sustainability in a two-day lab that gave as main outcome an agreement on the sustainable creation process and a fruitful exchange of creative ideas.
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NEWSLETTER I - DESIGN DESIGN
Art Directors meeting What is more to it, at the Retextil House the Art Directors had the chance to try out the basics of Retextil upcycling technique- they made Retextil yarns out of hand-cut textiles. Taking advantage of this visit we would like to include some more information about our partners from PĂŠcs artistic activity and creations.
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NEWSLETTER I - DESIGN DESIGN
More about RETEXTIL… RETEXTIL was founded in 2004 in Pecs, Hungary. It is a non-profit organization that took over its’ name from the RETEXTIL TECHNIQUE that consists of making textile thread from discarded cloths by using traditional procedures like spinning, weaving and knotting to create original pieces of furniture and different types of personal articles.
The Retextil technology is a Hungarian invention RETEXTIL is a space where the production of objects using recyclable materials is a kind of socio-therapy and provides employment for disabled people. It also is a way of thinking that is ideal and clearly reacts to the problems of social and environmental challenges in the XXI century. Now, let’s have a look at some of their handmade creations.
Skein
Owls fabric
Wool and tangles form
Rugs
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In the next issue… … An overview of the Artcycling guide … An account on the collection of discarded items for our artcycling activity … Description of Cultura 21 organization’s activities
We will come back in February!
For further information, please contact us via e-mail: proyectos2@intras.es You can find us on Facebook as well: https://www.facebook.com/Artcycling