Takeaway disposable tableware, monthly statements that are opened and discarded, clothing sitting unused in a corner of your wardrobe … what planet-polluting waste do you produce in your everyday life? But before you discard these unwanted things, stop and think for a while. With a little creativity, you could give them a second life and create beautiful artwork at the same time!

This July, the first-ever Beyond Environmental Arts Festival (BEA Festival) takes place at the Bank of East Asia Tower in Kwun Tong. Over two weekends – 23, 24 and 30 July – and under the theme “Waste not, want not”, the programme presents a series of fun events: the short theatrical performance Time4Change about the work of a group of young environmental pioneers, four upcycling workshops – “Reclaimed Wood Coasters”, “Miniature Fabric Dolls”, “Paper Hedgehog Puppets” and “Plastic Insect Pins” – on how to create art out of recycled materials, as well as environmental art installations by local artists. Free online registration is now available on . Limited spaces are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Organised by Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation and sponsored by the Bank of East Asia, the Beyond Environmental Arts Festival (BEA Festival) is a programme to raise public awareness of various environmental, social and governance topics through visual and performing arts activities. The themes for the first three years are “waste”, “nature” and “climate change” respectively.

Event content:

Theatre Performance Time4Change

​As we go about our daily lives, all of us produce much more waste than we imagine. But what can we do to make a difference and help protect the environment? Maybe it’s time to make some changes!

Written and directed by Lindsey McAlister, Time4Change is an original, high-energy family-friendly theatrical performance about five young environmental pioneers. Join them on their quest for change and inspire young people to make choices that can save our planet now and for future generations.

After watching the theatrical performance, participants can join one of the below upcycling workshops:

Upcycling Workshop: Reclaimed Wood Coasters

Every year, hundreds of tons of discarded wooden pallets are thrown into a landfill site in Hong Kong. With a little creativity, this scrap wood can be upcycled into art that can be enjoyed for years to come!

​In this workshop, art instructors from The Warehouse Teenage Club work with participants to cut, sand, wax and assemble reclaimed wood pieces to create unique and useful upcycled coasters. Join them and try your hand at making one of your own!

Upcycling Workshop: Miniature Fabric Dolls

Fast fashion items may be cheap to buy but the cost to the planet is more than we realise, and every year, millions of tons of discarded clothing end up in a landfill. As well as thinking twice before we buy new clothes, let’s help protect the planet by finding original ways to repurpose old items!

In this workshop, artist Eva Cheng demonstrates how we can reuse old clothing to create cute, fabric doll charms.

Materials:
2 pieces of recycled cotton cloth (20cm x 20cm)
Fabric scraps of any size or material
Small items, such as buttons, zips or ribbon, for decoration/accessories.
(*We encourage participants to collect regularly discarded items and recycle them to create art.)

Upcycling Workshop: Paper Hedgehog Puppets

Everyone loves online shopping, but our click-to-buy habits generate tons of packaging waste. Besides shopping selectively, what can you do to help reduce or recycle this waste?

​In this workshop, artist Candice Keung shows participants how to make a fun hedgehog rod puppet from thin cardboard sheets, waste paper and a straw.

Materials:
Thin cardboard sheets (Approx. A4 size)
Recycled magazine pages (x 5) or food packaging boxes (x 5)
Straw (x 1)
(*We encourage participants to collect regularly discarded items and recycle them to create art.)

Upcycling Workshop: Plastic Insect Pins
​
Our oceans are now so full of plastic pollution that many species of marine life already have microplastics in their bodies. If nothing is done to reverse this, 99% of marine species will consume microplastics by 2050 and the effect on the food chain and human health could be devastating. In this workshop, artist Yui Wong works with participants to upcycle plastic spoons and pieces of transparent plastic with beads, twist ties and acrylic paint pens to create either a colourful ladybird or dragonfly.

Materials:
Plastic spoon (x 1)
Small pieces of thin, firm transparent plastic (eg, from bottles, food containers, etc)
(*We encourage participants to collect regularly discarded items and recycle them to create art.)