Art and Sustainability at Fairgreen School

Leading with the ethos that an art education encourages students to become critical thinkers, creative problem solvers and able to confidently express themselves, the role of art in the curriculum at Fairgreen is equal to any other academic subject. In a global city such as Dubai, art is viewed as an ideal gateway for young minds to explore different cultures. 

With art teacher, Sarah Clarke, at the helm, students at Fairgreen are learning to explore artistic expression and creativity with an ecological skew to both the subject of their creations, as well as a medium to create with. 

Ms Clarke, upholds the values of Fairgreen’s sustainability mission in her teaching practice and encourages the students to be mindful of the materials they are using. From putting out small quantities of paint so as not to waste any, to using and reusing art paper, everything is given a second or third life. 

But it’s not just art supplies that are used in student projects - students are also challenged to source recycled materials such as newspapers and household items, and incorporate them into their works. 

Recent projects include a replica creation of the famous Mumbai slum, Alsalpha village, (which was rejuvenated by painting the buildings vibrant colours in a community collective effort) made by Grade 1 students collectively, using recycled materials. Secondary school students worked on individual portraits using recycled materials, where they learned to incorporate sustainability in their works as well as handling the challenge of using mixed media in creating their works. 

To know more about Fairgreen and meet the school’s director, you can book into one of the weekly Sunday or Wednesday tours. Spaces are limited!