EUC’s Eco-Arts & Media Festival explores environmental, social issues through creative lens

hand painting Earth planet

York University’s Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change (EUC) invites all York community members to the 27th annual Eco-Arts & Media Festival. The festival begins Monday, Feb. 13 and concludes Friday, Feb. 17.

Founded in 1994, the Eco-Arts & Media Festival is a week-long event featuring an array of art media and workshops that express perspectives on environmental and social issues.

This year’s festival, titled “MENDING,” will examine how art and art-making can be a catalyst to repairing relationships with the self, with others and with the world around us. MENDING encourages attendees to explore ways in which repairing those relationships can foster a more sustainable and just approach to tackling the environmental crises, systemic challenges and social inequity in our everyday lives.

Organized by EUC undergraduate student, Thereza Eric, and Environmental Arts & Justice Program Coordinator Sarah Flicker, the festival includes a mix of in-person and online sessions. The festival commences with opening exhibit “Unite and Liberate,” followed by hands-on collaborative mural and sustainable fashion workshops, then an evening speakeasy showcase at The Moonlight Lounge in Kensington Market. The festival then closes with an interactive online session by community arts organization, The Alcove, who will share ways to make positive change by increasing accessibility in urban spaces.

“As we return to in-person learning and gathering after three long years of the pandemic, some of our threads may feel especially tattered and frayed. But with love, care and attention, we can find new joy, creativity, possibility and life in old traditions,” says Flicker. “Whether you participate in a workshop, meal, mural, sewing circle or story – we invite you to consider your role in strengthening the fabric of our community. We hope you join us for a week-long celebration of the arts at the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change and explore the power and possibilities of food, dialogue and art-making.”

Festival events feature:

Poster: Eco-Art & Media Festival: visual art, workshops, music and performance, community events, story telling, and more, running from Feb. 13 to 17, presented by the Wild Garden Media Centre.

Unite & Liberate opening exhibit and artists’ talk
Date: Monday, Feb. 13, 5 to 7 p.m.
Location: Crossroads Gallery (HNES 283)

Join the artists and curators of the Unite & Liberate exhibit for an evening of snacking, sharing and collaborating. In this exhibit, you will explore ways in which we can mend relationships, bring people together, see the good in each other and rediscover our own humanity. We hope to unite and liberate, to stand in solidarity with marginalized communities and to relocate humanity’s relationship with nature from one of extractionism to one of stewardship. Refreshments will be included for attendees.
Registration required.

Collaborative art mural
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 14, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: EUC Student Lounge (First floor, outside of HNES 137)

Come enjoy lunch, paint and be a contributor to the next mural going up in EUC. All participants will be given a section of a large mural to paint. The result: a communal mural representing the various identities of EUC. Refreshments are included for attendees.
Registration required.

Eco-Fashion and mending workshop
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 14, 3 to 5 p.m.
Location: HNES 141

Learn about the cost of fashion and participate in a hands-on mending workshop. Participants will be given a canvas bag to “patch up” and decorate with various fabrics and techniques. Refreshments and materials will be provided for all participants.
Registration required.

Expressions of Mending showcase
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 15, 11:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m.
Location: HNES 140

Come support your fellow student artists during this course-based showcase on the theme of MENDING. This event is a showcase of various student works by the fourth-year students in EUC’s Arts in Action (ENVS 4122) course. Refreshments are included for attendees.
Registration required.

Telling Food & Eating Stories
Date: Thursday, Feb. 16, 1 to 3 p.m.
Location: HNES 141

Bring a dish and a story associated with that dish to share with peers! It can be a family recipe, a traditional dish, or even your favourite dessert. This food and story-sharing fiesta will be a celebration of the various cultures and identities of York University. 
Registration required.

Speakeasy night
Date: Thursday, Feb. 16, 7 to 10 p.m.
Location: The Moonlight Lounge: 319 Augusta Ave.

Come out for an exciting evening of singing, dancing and connecting with other students. This night will be a celebration of community and mending relationships with peers and creativity lovers. Refreshments will be provided.
Registration required.

Community arts workshop with The Alcove
Date: Friday, Feb. 17, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Online (zoom)

Tune into this exciting online workshop with the non-profit community arts organization The Alcove. This workshop is perfect for anyone interested in learning more about increasing accessibility to the arts in urban settings. The Alcove is a non-profit organization aiming to increase accessibility to the arts in urban settings. This online workshop will give students a look and taste of collaborative and accessible community art.
Registration required.