Artistic Approaches on Ecological Repair
Project
Beyond offering unique educational opportunities in mathematics, art, and philosophy, the Nesin Villages have become a turning point through the culture of communal use they bring to communities. Activities of all levels and scales can take place simultaneously within the village. Nesin Villages embrace many voices and adopt intersectional, post-human, and local perspectives.
For educational platforms to transcend their limits and remain sustainably relevant for real people and communities in an ever-changing world, a commitment to connection that goes beyond age, socioeconomic class, ethnicity, political views, and religious beliefs is essential.
The humble spatial structures—such as housing made of stone, straw, and clay, kitchens and cafeterias, gardens, woodworking and ceramics workshops—can host over 400 people, and the need for capacity is constant.
Located in Şirince, a small town in İzmir on the Aegean side of Turkey, the village is known for local foods like olives, figs, and olive oil. The valley where Nesin Villages have existed for fifteen years has evolved into an alternative education region with the establishment of institutions like Arkhe and Stoa.
This project aims to introduce not only a holistic approach to sustainability but also a new narrative within the local community of Şirince, where the Nesin Villages are located. Considering that thousands of young people flock to the valley each year, it is essential for a program grounded in ecological restoration to take the lead—serving as a model for future action.
In this context, volunteers at Nesin Villages frequently discuss topics such as reducing consumption, recycling waste, and prioritizing the use of recycled materials within the village. Issues surrounding water, energy, and waste cycles are becoming increasingly problematic as the village’s population continues to grow each year.
The proposed project will take place in the Nesin Villages—an important site with the potential to engage younger generations—and in areas where it can interact with holistic approaches that emphasize the urgency of recognizing global warming. Throughout the implementation, the project aims to bring together experts, artists, and initiatives in the field to strengthen its impact and support its long-term sustainability.
İstasyon: Nesin Villages Association (İstasyon) was founded by its volunteers to develop projects addressing other needs of the village and has carried out initiatives focused on artistic production and ecology. İstasyon is a hybrid community, shaped by its past and guided by former participants.
As students, coordinators, volunteers, and educators, we organize programs with diverse groups and concepts, develop learning modules, and design collective experiences.
Another Kind of Table was conceived as part of the Another Kind performance, within the scope of the Artistic Approaches to Ecological Restoration project held in the summer of 2023 at Nesin Art Village. This table served as a collective meeting ground to explore ways of thinking, writing, and sharing together.
Accompanying the performance, this experience transformed the audience from mere spectators into active co-creators. 🌿
Climate
Cultures Call
The Climate Cultures Call was a special call responding to urgent challenges at the interface of climate protection and social justice. We received a large number of inspiring project proposals from all over Europe and the Mediterranean that seek to build new alliances and inspire cultural change. The ten projects that stood out to us all contribute to a future shaped by a sustainable and equitable climate cultures. The project proposals will be realized over the course of the year. For more information about the call visit the Climate Cultures Call Website. In order to be able to effectively counteract climate change, we need to change our mindset. What is needed are holistic approaches that take into account the connection between global warming and social climate – and from this obtain incentives for the urgently needed transformation of our cultural practices and paradigms. Along with the ecological aspects, consequences of the climate crisis such as social upheaval, displacement and migration, and growing nationalism must also be considered.
Grantees // İstasyon: Nesin Villages Association
For 15 years, Nesin Villages have continued to exist and make a meaningful impact, proving their undeniable contribution to Turkey’s future. Hundreds of students from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds benefit from the program, gaining not only knowledge but also valuable experiences of living together in a multicultural environment.
As Nesin Villages—where we unite and come together—we are a community dedicated to supporting and facilitating the sustainability of such spaces and the continuity of creative production. Our project offers valuable alignment for international collaborations, particularly in a place where productivity is valued over consumption. Throughout the year, the Villages host thousands of visitors and hundreds of students whose perspectives are transformed. Over the past 15 years of tireless effort, Nesin Villages have continuously increased their visibility and impact, and through this project, will play a significant role in highlighting ecological concerns. This means we have the potential to inspire and mobilize the younger generation in the fight against global warming.
In the next three years, care-centered practices, social justice, and gender politics will be at the core of our ecological restoration efforts. Ecological repair and food justice were among the first topics we explored in our 2021 program, Interdisciplinary Collective Studies for Social Change. Thanks to the Sustainability Support grant provided by SAHA Association, we were able to realize our project in this field.
The project was designed to address concerns across social, artistic, and ecological domains, while utilizing the unique infrastructure of Nesin Art Village. In this context, our goals are:
The aim of this project is to make visible and sustain the dialogues that emerge from encounters between culture and arts professionals—through an open-source digital publication titled Ecological Repair. To achieve this, we invited artists and cultural workers who come to the Village for educational purposes to take part in the project.
In 2021, İstasyon: Nesin Villages Association was supported by the Spaces of Culture initiative and the Consulate General of Sweden.
ACTIVITY 03
Artist Residency on Climate Change
An artist will be invited to the village to engage with its activities and outcomes, supported throughout the process by mentorship from a curator and a writer. The residency aims to highlight ecological efforts through artistic expression and will culminate in an exhibition of the works created during the one-month stay. To enhance engagement, the exhibition will also be shared via social media platforms.
ACTIVITY 04
Gathering Around a Dinner Table to Reflect on Empowerment and Civil Collaboration
This event centers around a shared meal, using food as a social tool to foster dialogue in public space. By raising questions about production, consumption, and the climate crisis, the gathering aims to generate collaborative solutions among civil society groups and individuals. The activity echoes the practice of weaving—symbolizing the creation of new communal ties.
ACTIVITY 01
Creating a New Recycling System at Nesin Villages
Initiated with a summer school on ecological repair and sustainable production at Nesin Art Village, this project engages the community through walks, oral interviews, and storytelling. In this project—where waste is reimagined as a resource—a professional will be invited to the village to help develop accessible solutions. While working to understand and improve the village's waste cycles, the focus will also be on fostering new initiatives and collaborations within this small rural settlement. This documentation lays the groundwork for creating practical solutions, spatial and organizational outputs, and workshops.
ACTIVITY 02
Supporting the Recycling System with Permaculture Ethics
A permaculture garden will be established in an area designated by the village, exploring what Nesin Villages can learn from a garden designed in harmony with nature. IyiEkim, who previously collaborated with Nesin Station in the Ecological Repair project, will help deepen our understanding of permaculture ethics. This activity offers education through theoretical lessons, outdoor practices, and team-building exercises on the core principles of sustainable living and permaculture design.
