TALK: 2:30-4pm

Eco-artivist, rubbish artist & waste mosaicist Francesca Busca reimagines activism through sustainable creativity and systemic change.

From collaborating with marine research institutes to teaching artivism in classrooms, and cross-sector eco-artivist talks to hands-on activism, her work bridges science, communities & transformation—creating dynamic networks for environmental action. Living her values daily—vegan, wearing second hand, rarely flying & striving to be low-impact—her practice is a Gesamtkunstwerk of eco-living.  Join her for a talk on eco-artivism to understand how this approach is essential, building empathy, opening hearts and connecting people to the planet.

THE TRASHURABLES WORKSHOP: 12-2pm

Eco-artivist, rubbish artist and waste mosaicist Francesca Busca turns discarded materials in to bold pieces that protest disposable culture. Her workshop is about reimagining activism through sustainable creativity, systemic change and radical kindness.

Francesca will lead the group to create a small ‘waste-mosaic’ interpretation of a chair, wardrobe or table, creative with  "trashure": used fabric, paper or cardboard – inspired by her new ‘The Trashurables’ series. Bring your own fabric and paper waste and take home with you a cute, totally unique keepsake and learn some key skills in turning every day rubbish in to something beautiful.

TICKETS

Come join us at Simar Joinery for the launch of A Fuoco, a captivating book by Gianluca Grimalda, in conversation with the GREENy bastARTs collective. Book signing to follow.

A Fuoco chronicles a 28,000km journey from Papua New Guinea to Europe—without flying. When ordered by his former institute to return by plane, defying 15 years of low-emission travel, he chose unemployment over compromising his principles. The book amplifies voices from global peripheries, documents ecosystem collapse, and captures the community spirit along the Silk Road. It calls for collective action and civil disobedience to combat climate disruption.

Gianluca studies the link between social cohesion, globalization, and climate change. After graduating from Bocconi University, he worked as a researcher and lecturer at institutions like the International Labour Office in Geneva and multiple European universities. He contributed to the International Panel on Social Progress and advised the G20 on social cohesion through Think20.

​Agenda:

09:00 - The Sea Change Row Expedition 🚣‍♀️ - hear from crew members about what happened on their epic journey around Britain last summer 🌊🐬💨

​09:30 - What does science & data tell us about what's happening in the seas around Britain today? 📉🔊🌡️And how how can we tap into the stories told by those who still remember what they were like decades ago? 🐟🎣

​10:45 - how can we turn the tide on Ocean pollution? 👕🪢☠️ Hear from scientists, conservationists, artists, community groups, innovators & a Scottish orca called Lulu 🐋

Lunch provided

13:30 - Ocean recovery case studies. Hear from coastal communities, scientists and fishers who have worked together to protect areas of the seabed and seen just how fast it starts to respond. Featuring Ullapool Sea Savers & the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project.

​15:00 - New industries & ocean finance. Demystifying the role the financial sector can play in funding marine conservation. From blue bonds to carbon markets, insurance & pension funds, this is a space where some of the most exciting innovation is happening. Hear too from finalists of The Earthshot Prize using seaweed to tackle some of the ocean's biggest challenges.

16:30 - Introducing the Protected Areas Foundation, a new charity to support community-led management of coastal MPAs in England & Scotland

​​17:00 - Drinks reception hosted by the Protected Areas Foundation

​​17:30 - close

Speaker Francesca Busca — internationally known eco-artivist and founder of ArtforTrash and Payment in Kind(ness)

Date: Thursday, 20 June 2025

Time: 4:00–6:00 PM

Location: Gallery Grounds, Southampton

An engaging closing event including:

- Artist-led talk and walkthrough

- Q&A and open community dialogue

- Free artist catalogue (with newsletter sign-up)

- 20% discount on artworks

- BYOGlass drinks format for a low-impact celebration

Francesca’s practice, grounded in reclaimed materials and ethical living, offers a powerful closing reflection on sustainability, creativity, and active social engagement through art.

Ticket Information

A modest ticket fee is managed by the gallery to support event logistics and operations.

Artist contributions remain entirely voluntary and are deeply appreciated.

Tickets can be purchaseed here: https://www.gallerygrounds.com/event-details/eco-artivist-talk-by-francesca-busca

I will be speaking at Earthfest 2025, a vibrant festival of sustainability in the heart of London, blending music, art, business, and bold ideas to create an event unlike any other. 

Earthfest is breathing new life into the climate movement, and bringing together changemakers, innovators, and thought leaders to explore bold solutions for a sustainable future. Expect talks, workshops, music, sustainable solutions, and more, focused on inspiring positive climate action.

I’m looking forward to sharing my insights on ecoartivism and hearing from the incredible lineup of change-makers who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. 🌍🔥

Overview

We are very proud to be hosting an exhibition and talk by eco-artivist Francesca Busca, who transforms waste into sustainable artworks to protest disposable lifestyles and inspire systemic re-thinking. Part of our FOOTPRINTS environmental strand.

For more screenings of OCEAN, without a talk by Francesca Busca, please see here.

David Attenborough delivers his greatest message of hope in a spectacular new film. Coinciding with David Attenborough’s 99th birthday, the release of Ocean is an unmissable cinema event.

Ocean with David Attenborough takes viewers on a breathtaking journey showing there is nowhere more vital for our survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than the  ocean. In the film the celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker reveals how his lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Through spectacular sequences featuring coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, Attenborough shares why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing.

Stunning, immersive cinematography showcases the wonder of life under the seas and exposes the realities and challenges facing our ocean as never-before-seen, from destructive fishing techniques to mass coral reef bleaching. Yet the story is one of optimism, with Attenborough pointing to inspirational stories from around the world to deliver his greatest message: the ocean can recover to a glory beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen.

Summertown Artweek Art Forum

Seeking artistic concepts in the unexpected...

A panel of 4 speakers chaired by Jim White.

Join us at the Acton Town Hall Library for the launch of our new community hub! This Saturday, April 5th, from 1-4 PM, I'll be there with Artification, showcasing a unique eco-artivist exhibition. Discover how art can transform waste into wonder and spark meaningful conversations about sustainability.

Whether you're an art enthusiast or curious about eco-friendly practices, stop by for a meet and greet—I'm here to answer all your questions and share insights on creating impactful art from everyday materials.

The International Academy of Signification, Poetry and Contemporary Art, founded in 2014, in a training agreement with the University of Roma Tre, accredited by the Lazio Region, registered in the register of Roma Capitale, of the Municipality of Canale Monterano and promoted from the Italian Cultural Institute of New York, is a non-profit psychophysical architecture of people who share the ethical and aesthetic value of Poetry and Contemporary Art, of the significance of man's creative expressions according to an aesthetic semiotics, of knowledge, of social and cultural participation and the integration of the expressive languages ​​of life and art. Established for the purpose of promoting, training, researching, experimenting, protecting, disseminating, signifying, valorising and rewarding every form of human and artistic expression, taking care of the analysis of the meanings of all expressive languages.

Aimed at the aforementioned purposes are the International Academic Award for Poetry and Contemporary Art "Dionysian Apollo" with an annual celebration at the new exhibition and awards venue of the Conference Room of the National Central Library of Rome, an institution of the Ministry of Culture, the Academic Exhibition of Contemporary Art online and the Academic Anthology of Contemporary Poetry online with the critical analyzes of valorisation of the works of the president, the Academic Gallery of Contemporary Art at the City of Art Canale Monterano in Rome for the curation of the individual live exhibitions, the critical presentation care of catalogs published under the Academy brand of individual artists, the creation of videos, workshops, conferences, experiments, publications, concerts, book presentations, theatrical performances, commemorations, cultural trips.

The Association's integrated activities are also aimed at children and disabled people, for the emergence and enhancement of expressive potential.

Founding President Prof. Fulvia Minetti
Vice President Dr. Renato Rocchi
Art Director Antonino Bumbica