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CHAPTER 4. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

4.4. Environmental Education

4.4.5. The Role of Art in Education

The beauty of our natural surroundings affects every human being. Picturesque landscapes arouse aesthetic feelings. Every human being is able to wonder at the natural world and therefore it is of great importance that such sensitivity be developed from the earliest age.

Any signs of damage to the environment cause strong negative feelings. Placing emphasis on aesthetic value influences the development of ties between people and their environment. A sense of beauty is strongly connected with the creation of attitudes towards reducing pressure on the environment. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that the ability to express such feelings be developed.

Any aspect of beauty, as well as various forms of environmental degradation, may constitute the subject of artistic inspiration in the broadest sense of the word.

Art plays a double role in environmental education. On one hand, in situations where people are merely passive recipients, art inspires their imagination and sensitivity. It draws attention to things which often pass unnoticed due to the fast pace of life. Contact with art may help to become aware of the effects of peoples' destructive activity, create a sense of nostalgia of unspoiled natural world, etc.

One the other hand, by possessing appropriate skills and talents, one may express one's feelings in painting or graphics or in words. By producing a work of art people express their feelings, anxieties, or fears. The example of "The month of art" in Senegal shows how it is possible to link children, work, and thoughts, with scientist research.

Example: The Month of Art (Senegal)

A month of art was organized during the summer holiday in a city where young people lack knowledge about environmental issues. Gorea Island, 6 km from the seashore and with less than 1000 people, was never preoccupied with environmental issues. During one month children learned to rediscover and understand relationship between animals, plants, and environmental issues on the island from drawings, role-playing, songs, legends.

Target group: children between 6 and 12 years of age on holidays.

Painting:

The programme consisted of introducing a painting technique based on mud and plants in order to obtain a natural dye. A survey of these plants was made in order to recognize them, to think about their importance and their relationship with the environment. "We drew whatever we wanted," said Aliou, 12 years old.

Further, an exhibition was prepared and was dedicated to adults and particularly to the scientists who were meeting for three days to discuss coastal resources management in Senegal. In the drawings, questions and messages originated from the children. A notebook was prepared including children's preoccupation about nature with questions directed to the scientists.

Sculpture:

Sculptures were produced from solid wastes found on the beaches. The sculptures were left on the beach to remind people that the worst is on the bottom of the ocean.

Recommendation: Make the link between the scientist and the local people, who are the ones faced with this issue, as soon as possible. It is a key to success.

One of the methods of stimulating creativity in children is to have them paint a picture or prepare a theatre performance, a song or poetry, etc., on selected environmental issues. Irrespective of the creative talent of a child, such a task calls for reflection and encourages them to express their own feelings, resulting from what they have seen and experienced in contact with the environment. Theatre is also popular among adults. Humour is often used to facilitate communication of topics related to the environment. Radio-theatre and other radio-plays have a large audience.

Other theatrical forms are marionette and puppet shows, which provide entertainment and attract numerous amateurs. Such shows use sound, colour, and acting to show various issues, including those of an ecological nature. Competitions for posters or poetry on ecological issues are another way of developing art, which also has educational value.

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Table of Contents

• Brochure
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• International Year of Forests
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• World Environment Day
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• UNEP Campaign
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