New European Bauhaus Prizes 2023

Initiative category

Identify the award category for which this initiative is being submitted
Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking

Email user
info@recyupcy.cz

Basic information
Initiative title
RECYUPCY

Full initiative Title
RECYUPCY: Waste as creative material

Please provide a short, catchy description of your initiative to be used in communication towards the public.
We save waste from liquidation and use it to provide creative education for kids and adults.
WE UPCYCLE
We extend the life of waste products

What was the geographical scope of your intiative?
Local

Where was your intiative implemented?
Member State(s) and Western Balkans
Czechia

If relevant, insert names of region(s)/municipality(ies) involved
Fortress Josefov

Does your initiative address mainly urban or rural issues?
Mainly rural

Does your initiative refer to a physical transformation of the built environment or other types of transformations (hard or soft investments)?
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)

Has your initiative benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?
Yes

Which fund(s)?
NextGenerationEU

Has your initiative won an EU prize with a monetary value awarded?
No

Does your initiative has a minimum level of maturity? The minimum level of maturity is exemplified by stakeholder/ initiative promoter commitment to implement the initiative in practice and a clear methodology /approach.
Yes

On whose behalf are you submitting the application?
As a representative of an organisation
Please provide the contact details for the project promoter (the individual or representative of the organisation authorised to represent the project)
- Name of the organisation(s): FortArt z.s.
  Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation
  First name of representative: Tomas
  Last name of representative: Mrkvica
  Gender: Male
  Nationality: Czechia
  Function: representative of the association
  Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Okružní 34, Josefov
  Town: Jaroměř
  Postal code: 551 02
  Country: Czechia
  Direct Tel: +420 725 815 150
  E-mail: info@recyupcy.cz
  Website: https://www.recyupcy.cz/
Social Media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
- URL: https://www.instagram.com/recy_upcy/
  Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): INSTAGRAM, circular art platform, education for all, waste as creative material. #upcyclingschool #upcycling #recycling #recyupcy
- URL: https://www.facebook.com/RECY.UPCY/
  Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): FACEBOOK, RECYUPCY is the first upcycling community center focused on creative waste processing. #upcyclingproject
In case my initiative is selected as a finalist of the NEB Prizes 2023, I agree to share the name (individual and/or organisation’s), email address, website and social media accounts indicated above with other NEB Prizes finalists. I also agree to publish the name (individual and/or organisation’s), website and social media accounts indicated above next to the public description of my initiative in the channels of the European Commission.
Yes

How did you hear about the New European Bauhaus Prizes?
https://www.culturenet.cz/

Description of the initiative
Please provide a summary of your initiative
• In the fortress city of Josefov we are creating a circular culturally-educating community
• We focus on the most efficient use of waste in design, art, craftsmanship, architecture
• We create suitable conditions for working with waste products in general education in the form of creative learning.
• We create ecological alternatives for contemporary art materials.
• We involve children from the age of 3 in art and creative activities from waste material.
• We focus on the systematic collection of usable waste.
• We connect lecturers and pedagogues with artists and inspire each other in the use of waste as creative material.
• We create an open space, a meeting place for the general public.
• We offer opportunities to engage in various creative activities and a cultural program for young people.
• We create a living space focused on solving ecological issues, circularity of materials, sustainable culture.
• We create workflows for working with different groups of waste products.

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with 5 key words.
Incorporating waste products into education

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
Collection and sorting of waste products

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
Development of creative learning

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
A community for everyone

Please indicate the main themes of your initiative with key words
Upcycling

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of sustainability and how these have been/will be met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
Main objectives of the initiative
• Establish an upcycling educational facility for practical teaching
• To create a community engaged in creative work with various types of waste, looking for the meaning of their further use
• Create studios for residencies of foreign artists and designers
• Create demand for sorted materials through creative learning for primary school children and their teachers
• Create a digital online platform for sharing innovations
We are preparing
• A discussion with the city about using empty spaces in Josefov.
• on submitting an application for advertised subsidy titles. For example, subsidies to support the circular economy.
• For the reconstruction of new premises.

We implement
• We are creating a system for collecting sorted waste together with the Jaroměř, Trutnov and Hradec Králové collection yards.
• We have established a central warehouse/material bank and are preparing for its operation.
• We process permits for handling waste from collection yards.
• We are preparing the operational rules of the material bank.
• We organize internships with artists and designers for teachers and lecturers.
• We are preparing material packages and spaces for creative learning for elementary school students.

Yield
• a system for collecting, sharing and processing a wide range of waste

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people (through design, positive emotions and cultural benefits) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
Main goals

• Organization of regular multi-day festivals focused on live culture, connecting the world of artists and the general public, sharing experiences and ideas through art and design.
• Organization of regular symposiums for foreign artists with the aim of bringing new ideas about the use of waste materials.
• To create suitable conditions for the self-realization of people of different cultural backgrounds. To enrich each other.
• To bring aesthetic values and principles of creative learning to schools, to connect artists with elementary school students

Yield
• Aiming for an internationally open space focused on sharing innovations in waste processing.
• Focusing on the wellbeing of the individual for the benefit of the whole community.
• Emphasis on a respectful environment.

Please give information about the key objectives of your initiative in terms of inclusion (ranging from accessibility and affordability for all to inclusive governing systems, design for all principles or new societal models) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the initiative can be exemplary in this context.
Making affordable art material available to everyone.
• Involvement of children of Roma origin from an excluded locality among the majority society of their peers and thus to support mutual mutual learning of cultures and customs.
• We will create shared workshops, spaces for the education of local residents.
• We will set aside spaces for permanent art studios and craft workshops accessible to everyone.
• We will create suitable conditions for meeting different European cultures, sharing cultural differences.
Yield
• Exemplary involvement of the entire local community in the creative activities of the cultural and educational center.
• The creation of a cultural center in an excluded locality will open up new possibilities for the involvement of local residents.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the initiative and civil society have been/will be involved in the initiative and what has been/will be the impact of this involvement on the initiative
Involvement of citizens
• involvement through the collection of usable material,
• collection of selected materials for your use,
• educating citizens in the use of waste materials,
• lectures and ecological education for the public,
• shared workshops for citizens,
• suburban camps,
• cultural center as an open space with a dining room, cafe and regular cultural events for the general public..
Impacts
• the creation of a broad community

Please explain how different stakeholders at various levels (local, regional, national, European) were engaged in the design and implementation of the initiative.
• Bastion IV Art Colony provides part of its space for our purposes.
• We are financially supported by the city of Jaroměř and the Hradec Králové region.
• The creative learning project was supported by the Ministry of Culture with the financial participation of the NextGenerationEU fund and the National Recovery Plan.
• The Jaroměř craftsman's secondary school and Otta Wichterle's Velké Poříčí secondary school took part in the internships.
• The collection yards of Jaroměř, Trutnov and Hradec Králové participated in the collection of materials.
• In cooperation with the CYRKL circular market, we are looking for a use for various industrial wastes.
• The Czech Re-use Federation will include us in its membership base.
• Memorandum on future cooperation with Broumov, a candidate for European Capital of Culture 2028.
• In cooperation with the Bratislava School of Fine Arts, we are planning a residential stay for their students.

Please explain which disciplines and/ or knowledge fields were reflected in the design and implementation of your initiative. Please explain how representatives of these different fields interacted with each other, and what the added value of this process was
• Applied design
• Work with iron and wood waste
• A living culture
• Ecology
• Education
Thanks to the connection of representatives of these areas, the idea of creating a cultural center was born.
There are 3 key areas for processing different types of waste:
• Aesthetic value, design
• Creativity
• Craftsmanship
The art colony offers space, the collection yards offer material, designers and artists offer experience through artisanal processing of waste and a sense of aesthetic value, schools are interested in creating more space for the creativity of their students
This was the basis for the creation of our initiative, where representatives of these areas connect.

Please highlight the innovative character of the initiative, when compared to mainstream actions in the field of the initiative
Create an ecological alternative to current art materials and aids. Using ecological art materials to bring creative learning to schools.
Waste products can become an exemplary art material on which our students will develop their creativity.

Please describe which elements of your initiative could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries and contexts. This may involve, for example, aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, learnings, etc.
• A system of collection, sorting, storage, sharing and further processing of various types of waste.
• The material bank and its operating rules.
• Methodology of creative learning using ecological art materials.
• Future innovation in the processing of waste products.

Please describe the methodology or approach used in your initiative.
• Focus on systematic collection and sorting of waste products.
• Creating an outlet for sorted materials.
• Connection of artists and designers by teachers and educators for the purpose of exchanging experiences and knowledge about art materials.
• Creation and sharing of new work procedures for primary school students.

Please explain what kind of global challenges the initiative addresses by providing local solutions
• Creating an outlet for a wide range of waste products.
• Replacing current art materials with ecological ones.
• Development of innovation and competence sharing between designers and educators.
• Development of creative learning of children from 3 years of age.
• Creating suitable conditions for the transition from a linear to a circular economy.
• Reduction of energy consumption required for the production of new products.

Please detail the scope of progress in the implementation of the initiative. This can include already demonstrated results/outputs related to the chosen Prizes category, and the already achieved benefits from the initiative for direct and indirect beneficiaries. This can also include a development plan of the initiative, with a particular attention to the steps envisaged in the year following the application, and including envisaged results and benefits from the initiative
Establishment of initiative March 2022
• September 2022 The Ministry of Culture supported our educational program for creative learning in recycling and upcycling.
• In October 2022, we organized the first festival for the public focused on upcycling.
• We organized 2 internships for high school students on the use of waste as a creative material, the students further develop the acquired skills.
• In November 2022, we connected artists, pedagogues and lecturers for the first time.
• We pass on the experience and increased competence of this connection to elementary school students.
• We create suitable conditions for creative learning in our premises.
• In May 2023, we presented our initiative at a conference on creative learning in the Královehradecky region.

Plans for 2023
• Issuance of permits for waste processing from collection yards.
• Setting up systems and rules for operating the material bank.
• Collection, storage and sharing of waste products.
• Connecting educators and artists.
• A creative learning program for all children.
• Organization of multi-genre festivals and symposiums for artists and the general public.
• Development of a project for the reconstruction of the selected building for the permanent location of the community center of the Josefov fortress.

Plans for 2024
• Reconstruction of the building of the new cultural center.
• Organizing residential stays and symposia for the purpose of producing cultural center equipment.
• Creation of space for the implementation of innovations and the creation of new values.
• Developing the main objectives of the initiative

Benefit for society and locality
• Increasing the circularity of other waste products.
• Increasing competence and creativity in children.
• More room for innovation.
• Creation of new jobs.
• Increasing demand for housing in the locality and expanding the range of services.
• Revitalization of the Josefov fortress and the region.

Please provide documents that demonstrate the maturity level of the initiative and commitment to implement the initiative in practice (e.g.: evaluation report, final or mid-term initiative report, certification, publications, building permit, grant agreement, letter of support, partnership agreement, etc.)
PDF
PDF
- pdf-1-16162.pdf
- pdf-1-16162_0.pdf
If relevant, please describe how your initiative contributes to developing new competences, especially in the context of the European competence framework on sustainability.
• The use of waste products as art material to develop creativity and increase the manual skills of all children from 3 years old.
Please attach at least 6 high resolution images or visual representations of your initiative to your application.
If you would like to upload additional documentation, please upload or write below.
By submitting your application you confirm that you are the copyright owner of the images provided and that they can be used by the European Commission for the purposes of promoting the New European Bauhaus on all platforms (websites, print, social media and other).
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that you are not in in one or more of the exclusion situations foreseen under Article 136 of the Financial Regulation.
Yes

By submitting this application, I declare that I am not related to the entities subject to EU restricted measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and subject to Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU)1, and entities covered by Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05), which are not eligible to participate in any capacity.
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that you assume sole liability in the event of a claim relating to the activities carried out in the framework of the contest, that the proposed initiative has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Prizes in any other category or strand and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.
Yes

By submitting your application, you guarantee that you are the author or have the rights to proceed with the application and to authorise the use of the initiative and that you have obtained any necessary consents, licenses or assignments from third parties and included copyright notices when necessary
Yes

By submitting your application, you understand that all the applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be shared for the purposes of the selection processes, and notably published on the secured platform prizes.new-european-bauhaus.eu and for the purposes of the promotion of these on the New European Bauhaus website and/or other European Commission communication channels. In this sense, the applications would be widely available. Applicants should ensure that they present their initiatives, initiative, in such a way that they could be shared without giving rise to intellectual property related concerns. If your submission is selected as one of the finalists, it will additionally be shared for the purpose of the public vote that will take place. The European Union is granted a licence to use and share your application with the general public and the official external experts for the purposes of the selection process, including the voting. The European Union has the right to use the images and visual materials and the description provided in the application for communication purposes related to the contest and beyond. Rights granted comprise the right to store, reproduce, display, publish and communicate or distribute copies in electronic or digital format, including, but not only, through the internet. Unless you have disclosed your name, the European Commission has no obligation to share your name when using or disseminating your contribution to the public. The European Union cannot be held responsible in case any submitted initiative, initiative is found to infringe third party’s rights. The European Union shall be neither responsible for the use that third parties may do of the applications or related content.
Yes

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you read and understand that the ‘Guide to Applicants’ of the NEB Prizes 2023, available online in the website of the NEB Prizes 2023, is an integral part of this application form and that it must therefore be observed when completing and submitting your application.
Yes