The Project From the Garden to School (June 2018–2019)

Led by Eva Santos, Elena López, and Antonio García, the project From the Garden to School (June 2018–2019) encompasses various participatory artistic initiatives developed under the umbrella of the R&D+i project Public Space and Social Fabric: Collaborative Practices and Contemporary Art in Times of Economic Crisis. This initiative stands out for its coherent methodology, which actively involved the entire educational community of CEIP Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente, located in the El Carmen neighborhood of the city of Murcia. The main goal was to use participatory art to advocate for the installation of much-needed shade in the schoolyard to mitigate the extreme summer temperatures. The working process included excursions with Primary School students, aiming to foster both an understanding of the local ecological context—focusing on shade and its effects on the environment—and the role of art as a tool for communication and problem-solving. Parallel workshops were held with the Parents' Association (AMPA), resulting in the creation of a symbolic and collaborative canopy made from recycled materials and drawings by the students. The originality of the project is evident in its ability to merge artistic practice with ecological and pedagogical objectives, proposing an alternative way of engaging with art in contemporary society and contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the arts. The social impact of the project was reflected in significant media coverage, including local newspapers, radio, and television, highlighting its relevance and resonance beyond the immediate educational community. This dissemination played an important role in raising awareness about the need to adapt school spaces to climatic conditions, promoting a broader dialogue about art, ecology, and education. See also the associated initiatives: A Frog in My School (2021–2022, CEIP Juan XXIII, Murcia) and A Shadow in My Schoolyard (2023, CEIP José Hurtado, Granada).

One of the working groups creating the canopy During the installation of the canopy

The media coverage not only raised public awareness but also inspired other educational communities. As a result, we were invited to replicate the experience in two additional schools, demonstrating its replicable potential and the value of artistic mediation as a catalyst for social change. A Frog in My School (2021-2022, CEIP Juan XXIII, Murcia) This project was developed under the framework of the R&D+i project The Neighborhood as a Scenario for Critical Pedagogies and Collaborative Art and included the design and implementation of an illustrated short story contest for students, aimed at raising awareness within the educational community about the value of water and the need for ecological thinking. All of this was carried out as an exercise intended to bring a piece of the neighborhood's history closer to its young inhabitants.

A Shadow in My Schoolyard (2023, CEIP José Hurtado, Granada)

This third initiative followed a very similar strategy to the first, culminating in the creation of several canopies made from textile materials donated by the educational community. These canopies were adapted to the school’s outdoor facilities and were collaboratively produced with the Parents' Association (AMPA). The project was featured in local press and also received national television coverage on TVE, in the program “La Hora de la 1”. https://www.eva-santos.com/una-sombra-en-el-patio-de-mi-cole