Art For (H)eart(h) - What is this project about?
“To care for something, one must first fall in love with it.”
Art for (H)eart(h) is a cross-border initiative empowering young people from Lithuania, Spain, and Bulgaria to tackle environmental challenges through creative expression. By connecting youth directly with local conservation role models and non-formal learning methods, the project transforms environmental awareness into impactful visual art and community action.
This KA154 Erasmus+ project is a transformative European initiative that empowers young leaders to address environmental challenges through the power of creative expression. By connecting youth directly with local conservation champions and immersive non-formal learning, the project guides participants from deep environmental connection to artistic action—culminating in an international mobility and public exhibitions that inspire lasting ecological stewardship across local communities.
Project Aims & Objectives
With this project, we want to raise environmental awareness by engaging young people in creative activities that promote ecological conservation. Many young people feel disconnected from nature or uncertain about how to create positive change in their communities. This project offers a space where youth can build a genuine connection with the environment, collaborate with international peers, and voice their concerns through art.
Our Objectives:
- Deepen Environmental Connection: Introduce youth to local conservation champions and sustainable projects through immersive study visits in Lithuania, Spain, and Bulgaria.
- Empower Through Creative Art: Host an international training mobility in Lithuania where participants translate their environmental learning into artistic creations guided by professional mentors.
- Engage Local Communities: Showcase the participants’ final artworks through a public exhibition in Lithuania and follow-up dissemination actions in each partner country to inspire broader community action.
Expected Impact:
- For Youth: Enhanced leadership skills, artistic competencies, climate awareness, and intercultural experience.
- For Communities: Visual, emotionally resonant art exhibitions that challenge public perceptions and inspire local environmental action.
- For Partner Organizations: Stronger European networks and new methodologies combining art, youth work, and ecological regeneration.
Study Visits
The Local Study Visits form the foundational discovery phase of the project, designed to spark inspiration through direct interaction with nature and community role models. Taking place across Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Spain, a total of 9 local study visits (3 per participating country) will bring young people out of traditional learning settings and directly into local ecosystems and conservation initiatives.
Study Visits in Lithuania
Participants from Vilniaus Lazdynų School completed two eco-focused study visits in Vilnius, exploring how science, engineering, and innovation drive environmental sustainability.
1. VILNIUS TECH: “Sustainable Environment” Conference
At the 29th annual environmental science conference, students engaged with researchers discussing climate change mitigation, circular economy strategies, and eco-friendly materials. They also toured the VILNIUS TECH Sustainability Center, learning how renewable energy research and eco-literacy foster responsible, sustainable communities.
2. Vilniaus Kolegija (VIKO): Sustainable Engineering
Visiting VIKO’s Faculty of Technology, youth explored modern labs and student projects centered on applied green tech. Hands-on workshops allowed them to experience how engineering solutions—from energy efficiency to waste reduction—are developed to build a greener future.
Study Visits in Spain
Taking place across the historical and ecological landscapes of Granada (Cerro del Sol, Darro Valley, and Sacromonte), the Spanish study visits focused on the deep intersection of regenerative ecology, climate adaptation, and artistic activism. Guided by non-formal learning, youth participants explored how historical heritage and nature-based solutions inspire contemporary environmental action.
1. Silla del Moro: Ecosystem Resilience & Regenerative Agriculture
Participants embarked on an interpretative route through the Cerro del Sol to analyze the territory as an interconnected socio-ecological system. The visit emphasized:
Mediterranean Ecosystems & Biodiversity: Identifying native flora (holm oaks, pines, Mediterranean shrubland) and observing their natural adaptations to severe drought, poor soils, and wildfires.
Regenerative Practices: Contrasting intensive agriculture with sustainable land management – focusing on soil health restoration, functional biodiversity, and natural water retention.
2. Dar al-Arusa & Cerro del Sol: Land Art, Eco-Aesthetics & Artivism
Utilizing the natural landscape as an open-air studio, young people explored how art can communicate environmental protection without harming nature. Key focus areas included:
Eco-Aesthetics & Land Art: Using natural elements like stone, light, and shadow to convey ecological messages.
Creative Cartography: Mapping the territory using natural pigments, plant textures, and organic geometric patterns to build deeper visual eco-literacy.
Artivism for Landscape Preservation: Debating the role of the artist as an agent of social change along the fragile boundary between urban Granada and protected natural spaces.
3. Sacromonte & Aljibe de la Lluvia: Nocturnal Adaptation & Water Conservation
Designed as an exercise in climate resilience and adaptation, this night-time study visit responded directly to extreme local heatwaves (exceeding 40°C). Exploring the nocturnal Mediterranean ecosystem allowed participants to experience:
Organic Architecture & Living: Analyzing Sacromonte’s cave habitations as early examples of human lifestyle integrated seamlessly into natural topography.
Traditional Water Conservation: Examining historic water systems (such as the Aljibe de la Lluvia cistern) to contrast ancient, natural-cycle-respecting water management with today’s climate challenges.
Sensory Eco-Aesthetics: Using heightened auditory and tactile perception in the stillness of the night to build ecological empathy and inspire sustainable creative expression.
Study Visits in Bulgaria
Taking place in Sofia, the Bulgarian study visits provided participants with a comprehensive overview of environmental action – bridging global biodiversity conservation, national waste recovery systems, and natural history education. Grounded in non-formal education and participatory dialogue, these activities empowered youth to connect theoretical environmental concepts directly to daily practices and civic responsibility.
1. WWF Bulgaria: Biodiversity Conservation & Climate Advocacy
Participants engaged directly with representatives from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Bulgaria to explore global and national climate challenges:
Ecosystem & Species Protection: Learning about critical conservation efforts to preserve endangered habitats, protect local biodiversity, and maintain ecological balance.
Climate Change & Sustainability: Discussing climate mitigation strategies, responsible resource management, and balancing economic growth with environmental protection.
Youth-Led Action: Reflecting on the role of young people as active citizens and advocates capable of driving community-based solutions.
2. ECOBULPACK Bulgaria: Circular Economy & Sustainable Waste Systems
Through an interactive presentation and open discussion with EcoBulpack, youth gained practical insights into sustainable waste management and recycling infrastructures:
Separate Collection & Recycling Systems: Examining the logistical processes of sorting, recovering, and processing materials such as paper, plastic, metal, and glass.
Circular Economy Principles: Exploring how non-profit waste recovery systems reinvest resources to reduce pollution, save raw materials, and lower carbon footprints.
Responsible Consumption: Encouraging participants to critically evaluate their personal waste habits and adopt sustainable, eco-friendly choices in their daily lives.
3. National Museum of Natural History: Experiential Eco-Literacy
Using the museum as an open non-formal learning environment, participants explored interactive exhibitions on Earth’s natural history:
Interactive Biodiversity Exploration: Observing specimens and analyzing species relationships to understand complex ecological interdependencies.
Human Impact & Critical Reflection: Engaging in guided discussions about how human activity shapes natural habitats and alters delicate ecosystems over time.
Mobility in Vilnius, Lithuania
The International Youth Mobility in Vilnius hosted by Tavo Europa represents the pivotal co-creation phase of the project. Bringing together 24 youth participants and leaders from Lithuania, Spain, and Bulgaria, this gathering transforms insights gained from local study visits into tangible artistic expressions and community advocacy.
Key Highlights of the Vilnius Mobility
Multicultural Collaboration & Reflection: Young people from all three partner countries gather to share their local perspectives, reflect on their encounters with nature conservationists, and explore shared environmental challenges.
Creative Co-Creation Workshops: Guided by mentors and trainers, participants use non-formal learning methodologies to convert raw ecological data, personal reflections, and natural materials into creative visual art.
Focus on Climate Justice & EU Youth Goals: Grounded in EU Youth Goal #10 (Sustainable Green Europe), discussions emphasize personal responsibility, civic participation, and climate justice – ensuring that art serves as a catalyst for environmental activism.
The Outcome: Public Exhibition & Community Dissemination
The centerpiece of the mobility is a collective public art exhibition in Vilnius. By presenting visual artworks to the local community, participants amplify their environmental message, spark emotional connection with nature, and inspire meaningful community action for a sustainable future.
What's Next?
To conclude this journey, the project will host its Final Event in September—a capstone gathering designed to celebrate the participants’ artistic journey and amplify its message. Following the international training and local study visits, this final event will serve as a platform to present the collective artistic exhibition to the broader community, showcase the young participants’ insights, and share the project’s key outcomes with local stakeholders and partner organizations. Beyond displaying the artwork, this closing milestone aims to ignite long-term civic engagement, foster future cross-border collaborations, and empower these young leaders to continue advocating for environmental sustainability well into the future.
