Brushing up on our sustainability knowledge
York College & University Centre now has a new podium to showcase the talents of our Art & Design students.
The Podium Garden Project has lovingly brought to life an outdoor space off the first floor of our Sim Balk Lane campus, with the students creating spectacular mural, mosaic and shed designs.
It is an area that can be enjoyed by students from different curriculum areas and will provide a base for the College Sustainability Club.
The installation of communal seating and raised planters also formed part of the impressive revamp.
Along with volunteers from Upper Poppleton-based, not-for-profit organisation Everything is Possible, the students worked to a theme of The Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
Everything is Possible have a vision to help the young and disadvantaged. Their partnership network of more than 25 countries worldwide makes “everything possible” for as many young people as they can. Working together with Everything is Possible, York College & University Centre have run projects in Aruba to create artwork the local community can enjoy.
“We want to, collectively as a college, bring more visibility to sustainability. Sustainability is something we care a lot about in the art department and we do many projects which are focussed on the environment as well as social and economic issues.
“We felt that we wanted to do something that was really visual so we put together a live project that would really engage students to develop their skills and knowledge further.”
The project was broken down into three categories: a mural design, a mosaic design, and a shed design. The aim of the project was for each category to represent one of The Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
The students’ submitted designs were then presented to the York College & University Centre Strategic Leadership Team where a winning design was selected for each category.
Congratulations to our winning students:
Mural Design: Grace Afford
Global Goal: 13 - Climate Action
Mosaic Design: Alice Trainor
Global Goal: 14 - Life Below Water
Shed Design: Laura Smith
Global Goal: 15 - Life on Land
With the winning designs decided, the students and their peers, both from Art & Design and other curriculum areas, came together to bring to life their vision in the York College & University Centre Podium Garden.
“I’m passionate about the environment and everything that is happening to it. I really wanted to capture something that was bold and showed the beauty of our planet and what may happen if we don’t change.
“The main parts of my mural design are human faces, which represent mother nature. The face and hair, which turns into waves, then develops into a design to symbolise droughts and floods.
“We only have one planet and it’s important that we look after it. On a personal level, I love being out in nature and I’d hate to see it destroyed. I really want to be part of the change.”
With special thanks to B&Q for their generosity in donating unsold tiles and equipment, which has been used to make the Podium Garden a truly special and inspiring place.
For more information on The Global Goals for Sustainable Development, click here.
To explore Art & Design at York College & University Centre, click here.
