“Creative Circularity” Summer Academy 2025

Estonian Academy of Arts “Creative Circularity” Summer Academy will take place from August 11 to August 15, 2025. The courses are part of the T4EU Summer School 2025 and are organised as ERASMUS+ BIPs.

This year, we are focusing on sustainability and upcycling in design, offering hands-on workshops and exciting challenges.

Courses description

COURSE 1
“Green Transformer Student Challenge”

A hands-on challenge encouraging innovative and sustainable design solutions. The best solutions will be rewarded!

The goal of the Green Transformer Student Challenge is to inspire students to explore and apply simple design opportunities for developing sustainable solutions.
The Challenge brings together students in interdisciplinary teams to tackle real-world sustainability challenges. Guided by experienced mentors, they engage in site visits, attend lectures, participate in group work, and receive consultations to refine their ideas.
Each team develops a design concept that proposes an innovative and feasible solution to a specific sustainability challenge. The final concepts are presented to a panel of experts, where they are evaluated based on their level of innovation, feasibility, and impact on sustainability.

At the conclusion of the project, the best teams are recognized, with winning teams receiving cash prizes from a total prize fund of 5000 EUR. Additionally, they have the opportunity to further develop their ideas through the Student Initiative competition. This structure ensures that students not only gain practical experience but also have the potential to bring their solutions to life.
This approach also helps to engage students by offering them a clear pathway from idea development to potential real-world implementation.

COURSE 2
“Recrafted: A Workshop for Shoe & Bag Upcycling”

A practical workshop on transforming used materials into unique fashion items.

This workshop focuses on transforming old materials into unique, functional fashion pieces. Workshop is led by shoemakers Kelian Luisk and Marika Jylhä, bag designers Merle Visak and Sirle Rohusaar. Participants will split into two groups: one will create shoe uppers from repurposed denim, followed by assembling them into complete shoes, while the other group will craft bags using upcycling techniques. Designer Reet Aus will begin the session with an introduction to the principles and importance of upcycling in fashion, offering insights into sustainable design practices.

The workshop combines creativity with environmental consciousness, encouraging participants to rethink the potential of discarded materials. By the end of the workshop, each participant will have their own upcycled creation—whether a pair of shoes or a bag—showcasing the possibilities of sustainable fashion.

This is a good opportunity to engage with experts, develop new skills, and connect with students from across the alliance!

For any questions or further details, please contact: hanna-britt.augasmagi@artun.ee

We look forward to seeing you in Estonia for a week of creativity and learning!

**Practical information about traveling will be added soon!