A 3-day workshop aiming to empower 30 young students from Auki’s surrounding communities to creatively engage with environmental issues is underway from 26 to 28 March at the Malaita provincial capital.

Facilitated by Dreamcast Theatre Solomon Islands, it encourages creativity to deal with environmental issues such as plastic waste, biodiversity, and climate change through a hands-on art workshop and exhibition.

By fostering artistic expression and storytelling, the project seeks to raise awareness and inspire community-wide action towards environmental sustainability.

British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands and Nauru, His Excellency Paul Turner said:

This is a great initiative, engaging young people in caring and taking responsibility for their local environment. I am delighted that the British High Commission is associated with such a project. We will look to build on our partnership with Dreamcast.

Leveraging from the success in Gizo, Western Province, the Malaita Trash Art Project will be an impactful endeavour. Engaging 30 students, ages 9 to 13, from three communities in Auki, the workshop drew on the success from a similar workshop held in Gizo, Western Province by conducting the three-day session where the first will focus on storytelling, art as a medium, and identifying students’ art interests through interactive activities and games.

The second day will be dedicated to creating art and learning the basics of art exhibition curation and setup. The third day will be exhibition time where all participants will have the opportunity to exhibit their artwork invited guests and members of the community around them.

Prior to the workshop, Dreamcast Theatre had formalised partnerships with local art and youth networks, identify students, and tailor session plans. Invitations were sent to encourage gender parity and inclusive participation. Community leaders, schools, and parents have been notified two weeks prior to the event to ensure broad support.

Participants will receive certificates, and their artwork will be showcased in schools or public spaces within the community. This initiative builds on last year’s Honiara Dreamcast plastic workshop, expanding its reach to provincial areas to raise awareness about plastic waste, biodiversity, and climate issues.

The students will work in their chosen medium, such as photography, film, theatre and puppetry, or design guided by skilled Dreamcast Theatre facilitators.