Cultural engagement as a learning environment in the artistic encounter zone SPA_LOW_SKY

Abstract

In the middle of Vienna between the locations of a sculptor’s studio and an educational campus Spalowskygasse (‘Bildungsgrätzl Mariahilf’), an artistic encounter zone is being created through the participation of artists, schools and neighbourhood residents. This artistic intervention employs service-learning and engaged learning approaches. Based on cultural heritage and local history, plans for using various found materials and employing processes of recycling and upcycling have been developed. Such an artistic encounter zone initiates a public creative discourse. It aims to expand the circle of participants beyond already established knowledge alliances to create new synergies. The concept provides for broad participation from art and cultural institutions, schools, universities and social institutions. Participants are invited to take the initiative in community learning activities. This article reports on the initial phase of this service-learning project where workshops have already been conducted.

Empowering youth for sustainability in universities: service-learning and the willingness to act

“…SL has also been implemented in the fields of coastal sustainability, circular economy and infrastructure (expanding and refurbishing indoor and outdoor learning spaces in public high schools) (Kawabe et al, 2013;Montiel et al, 2021;S anchez-Carracedo and L opez, 2021). SL has also been successfully implemented SL in the fields of art (Jacobs, 2023;Laven, 2023), analytical chemistry (Tong et al, 2023), accounting (Lee and Perdana, 2023) and economics (Arnold, 2021). In the latter, it is considered that SL "makes an essential contribution to the teaching of economics at universities, as it enables a wide range of competencies and can combine meaningful practical work with scientific demands" (Arnold, 2021, p. 118).…”

“…, 2021; Sánchez-Carracedo and López, 2021). SL has also been successfully implemented SL in the fields of art (Jacobs, 2023; Laven, 2023), analytical chemistry (Tong et al. , 2023), accounting (Lee and Perdana, 2023) and economics (Arnold, 2021).…”