On Friday, 28 August 2026, the Strokovni izobraževalni center Ljubljana (SIC Ljubljana) organised an art workshop for the children of its employees as part of the CLIMA-VERSE project. The workshop focused on creatively exploring an important environmental issue – marine and water pollution and the impact of waste on marine ecosystems.
The central theme of the workshop was “The Sea Through Children’s Eyes.” Using a variety of artistic techniques and materials, the children were encouraged to express how they perceive the sea, water pollution and the consequences of human activities on marine life. They were given considerable creative freedom, allowing each artwork to become a unique representation of their understanding of environmental issues.
A distinctive feature of the workshop was the choice of materials. Instead of traditional canvases, the children used wooden shelves from discarded cabinets and large pieces of cardboard as a base for their artwork. In addition to paints and other art supplies, they were provided with a variety of discarded but still usable materials, including textile scraps, construction mesh, plastic bags, leftover wallpaper, newspaper and paper scraps, collage paper, kitchen sponges and other materials that would otherwise have been thrown away.
The children incorporated these materials into their paintings, collages and assemblages and combined them with natural materials collected along the seashore, such as interestingly shaped stones, seashells, pieces of driftwood, fragments of glass and various plants.
In this way, waste was not merely the subject of the workshop but also became a medium for artistic expression. By transforming discarded and temporary materials into original and unique works of art, the children gave them new purpose and value. Through this practical and age-appropriate approach, the workshop highlighted the importance of reusing materials, responsible waste management and the conservation of natural resources.
The activity brought together art, creativity and environmental awareness, reflecting the objectives of the CLIMA-VERSE project to promote a better understanding of climate-related and environmental challenges. The workshop also encouraged children and young people to consider how human activities affect the environment and how each individual can contribute to its protection.
A total of 32 children and young people aged between 2 and 18 years participated in the workshop, creating a unique intergenerational creative environment. Despite the considerable age differences, all participants were united by a common task: to depict marine life through art while drawing attention to the problem of marine pollution.
The workshop was prepared by art teacher Tina Grobovšek, with the support of Slavica Šavli, Maja Božičnik Vasileva, Mojca Žumer and Anamarija Lukšič, as well as physical education teachers Ema Mlakar Debenec and Tomi Martinjak. Our students from the textile department, Class 2.K – Alejna Mujovikj, Sara Alagić and Kora Markelj – also contributed their artistic knowledge and supported the youngest participants during the creative activities. We sincerely thank them for their valuable contribution.
Photographs of the completed artworks will be displayed in the main hall of Strokovni izobraževalni center Ljubljana, allowing students, staff and visitors to see the children’s message about the importance of clean seas and a responsible attitude towards the environment.
The workshop demonstrated that materials that might otherwise be discarded can be given a new life, a new purpose and a new message – this time through the creativity of our youngest participants.
Prepared by: Tina Grobovšek and Mateja Vlašić-Crnolić
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