[Photo by John Crossan]
Gzira will soon have a new area for play and leisure for children and the rest of the community, as a new project called School Playscapes - Innovative Learning Approaches Through Play has been won, led by the a team of people working with the University of Malta in collaboration with the Gzira Local Council.
The participants from the University are Dr Edward Duca, Ms Daniela Quacinella and Mr Kurt Calleja from the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation, and Dr. Ing. Daniel Micallef from the Faculty for the Built Environment.
The School Playscapes project is supported by the Arts Education Scheme of the Arts Council Malta, which is part of the RESTART 2021 scheme, to support Maltese and Malta-based arts education institutions, organizations, and enterprises in providing a high standard and forward-thinking education in the arts and creativity.
School Playscapes aims to improve Maltese citizens and residents of Gzira’s physical health and psychological wellbeing through a community garden intervention, which will include a conceptual school playscape and possibly an artistic and environmental micro-intervention.
The playscape will be co-created as an interactive and permanent public art installation within the Gzira Primary School with aesthetic direction from the lead artist, Laura Besançon. The scope of its design is to help children teach themselves and others through project-based learning, and explore innovative ways of expressing their creativity. This playscape allows for imaginations to thrive rather than be restricted by traditional, rigid play areas. It’s architecture will allow children to experience multiple modes of play, namely; exploratory, creative, imaginative, social and locomotor play, among others.
[Image above courtesy of Laura Besançon]
The project’s green and art interventions will be performed with the students, and other experts, to help students develop the play area they want while learning about the environment and importance of green open spaces. The garden will be accessible to citizens after school hours, to provide a place of serenity away from the densely populated areas and traffic.
The School Playscapes project is funded by the Arts Education scheme of the Arts Council Malta, as part of the RESTART 2021 Scheme. It is implemented in collaboration with the Horizon 2020 funded VARCITIES project. VARCITIES aims to implement real, visionary ideas, adding value by establishing sustainable models for increasing the health and well-being of citizens who are exposed to diverse climatic conditions and challenges in and around Europe. From ten countries, 25 institutions are involved, including the University of Malta. The University of Malta is focusing on Rue D’Argens in Gzira. The project aims to improve air quality and reduce noise pollution and encourage an active lifestyle.
VARCITIES has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 869505.
