The Sustainable Life Through Art project, a collaborative initiative by C4CCI (Turkish British Centre for Cultural & Creative Industries) and SUSAKO (Sustainable Art Women’s Cooperative), has been selected as part of the British Council’s Creative Collaborations Grant Programme 2024-25. This programme, designed to foster creative partnerships between cultural institutions in Turkey and the United Kingdom, is focused on addressing contemporary themes such as sustainability, gender equality, and global challenges through art and creativity.
Sustainable Life Through Art aims to strengthen ecological awareness by turning industrial waste into artistic creations, merging visual and digital arts with sustainability. The project is one of the ten creative initiatives selected from 123 applicants across Turkey to receive funding from the British Council.
A Cross-Cultural Collaboration
In this year’s edition of the British Council’s Creative Collaborations Grant Programme, institutions from cities like Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, Çanakkale, Gaziantep, Hatay, Diyarbakır, and Kocaeli have been paired with partners in the UK, including those from London, Milton Keynes, Southampton, Glasgow, Dundee, and Gloucestershire. These collaborations aim to address vital issues through various artistic disciplines such as visual arts, creative technologies, film, music, literature, theatre, dance, and performance art.
The programme places a strong emphasis on innovative projects that encourage cross-cultural collaboration. This year, five institutions will receive up to £17,500, while five others will be awarded up to £7,500 in funding. The projects will run throughout 2024 and culminate in March 2025.
Sustainable Life Through Art Project
Among the selected projects is Sustainable Life Through Art, which brings together SUSAKO from Turkey and C4CCI from the United Kingdom. C4CCI, which partners with TurkishBritish and CreaPost, will lead the project’s artistic direction. The core aim of this initiative is to enhance sustainability awareness by transforming industrial waste into art through the medium of visual and digital arts.
Dr Ayla Torun from C4CCI will curate the project, overseeing a residency programme that will host artists in Izmit, Kocaeli. This programme will include workshops on upcycling, a two-day digital artist residency, and the creation of art installations. A major focus will be on women artists, who will be invited to participate in upcycling workshops, using discarded materials to create art that promotes sustainability.
Events and Exhibition
The project will kick off in December 2024 and continue until March 2025, culminating in a digital and physical exhibition at SUSAKO’s historic mansion in Izmit, Kocaeli. This exhibition will showcase the artworks produced during the residency programme. In addition, a panel discussion on “Creative Industries and Sustainable Art” will be organised to further explore the intersection of art and sustainability.
This project provides an incredible opportunity for artists to engage in cross-cultural collaboration while addressing the crucial theme of environmental sustainability through their work.
About the British Council’s Creative Collaborations Grant Programme
The British Council’s Creative Collaborations Grant Programme seeks to foster partnerships between cultural and arts organisations in Turkey and the UK. By supporting projects in visual arts, film, music, theatre, and more, the programme encourages innovative approaches to pressing global issues such as ecology, gender equality, and sustainability. This year’s selected institutions include SUSAKO, the Ankara State Opera and Ballet, the Çanakkale Biennale Initiative, the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), Istanbul Modern Art Museum, and others. These institutions will collaborate with their UK counterparts, exchanging ideas and expertise across borders.
Stay Tuned for Artist Residency Calls
The Sustainable Life Through Art project will soon announce an open call for digital artists to participate in the residency programme. If you are an artist interested in transforming waste into art and contributing to a more sustainable future, keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities to get involved.
For more information on the project and the British Council’s Creative Collaborations Grant Programme, visit susako.com or c4cci.com.
