UK’s POoR Collective embraced creativity and sustainability
in the context of PCAI x British Council Tilos Artist Residency
The PCAI x British Council Tilos Artist Residency on the first certified zero-waste island has just concluded with extreme success. This innovative programme, organised by PCAI and the British Council Greece explores how the principles of upcycling, zero waste and circular economy can inspire creativity, collaboration and regenerative thinking in architecture, design crafts, materials and urban design. This year’s artist residents, the POoR Collective, is a socially minded organisation, awarded with the Emerging Design Meda. POoR focuses on the development of communities through the elevation of young people and while on Tilos they had the chance to engage with the community and delve into the Just Go Zero circular economy programme implemented on the island. The collective collaborated with the islanders, the municipality, and the primary school students embracing the sustainable philosophy of the island in a creative and playful manner. As part of their residency, POoR organised a series of popular open studios and workshops that culminated during an open event held in the Tilos Playground, where the collective presented the repurposed public space toys and installations produced for the school and the kids’ area of Livadia.
Regarding their Tilos experience POoR Collective note: “Working with the young people in Tilos has been an amazing experience. The students have been super engaged throughout the process, and it was exciting for them to see their sketches turn into real, interactive play equipment in their local playground.”
Athanasios Polychronopoulos, PCAI founder and Polygreen CEO, and Kika Kyriakakou, PCAI artistic director state: “We are overwhelmed to have partnered for the second consecutive year with the British Council on the beautiful island of Tilos. Our 2024 artists in residence, the awarded POoR Collective from the UK, engaged successfully with the community during their fascinating workshops and open studios. These collaborative and truly inspiring gettogethers, completely aligned with Polygreen’s zero waste philosophy, resulted in a series of works that will remain on the island as a playful reminiscence of sustainable, creative practices.”
Maria Papaioannou, British Council head of arts says: “Tilos Artist Residency is one of our key design and architecture programmes in the EU, focusing on the concept of the island and exploring new ways of working with the community with a focus on sustainability, waste and the public space. We are very happy we collaborated with PCAI for a second consecutive year on a programme that aims not only to raise awareness around circularity and materials but also enhance the skills of young people, increase their creativity while bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds. The island welcomed POor Collective and generously gave them the opportunity to develop work and interact in a meaningful, fun and organic way.”
The Tilos Artist Residency is organised in the context of Polygreen’s collaboration with the Municipality of Tilos. Just Go Zero Tilos, an innovative environmental project, powered by Polygreen, was launched in 2022 aiming to develop solutions that promote circular economy and sustainability, while making Tilos the first zero-waste island of Greece.
More about POoR Collective
Power Out of Restriction is a socially minded organisation that focuses on the development of communities through the elevation of young people. They see the power of the younger generation and seek to get young voices heard. They are a design practice that works with young people to create tangible outputs in their local environments. Services include designing and creating murals, pavilions and architecture. Through knowledge sharing and design, they aim to bridge the gap between communities, bring together a wealth of demographics, and empower the youth of today. POoR Collective believes that genuine engagement is achieved through the community’s stake in each project. Meaningful involvement promotes ownership, empowerment, and knowledge sharing. They have worked with organisations that include the RIBA, Royal College of Art, Design Museum, South London Gallery, Wandsworth Borough of London Council, Merton Council and London Borough of Bexley.
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Image credit: POoR Collective in the 3rd Tilos Artist Residency
Photo: Vassia Magoula, ©PCAI
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Activity aligned with Goals 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16
