Great News! The FAiR Project is Taking Off

I am excited to share some fantastic news! Our Ludic Design team (also known as GameChangers) at the Centre for Postdigital Cultures (CPC), Coventry University, has just received a follow-on grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) for our FAiR project. This endorsement means we’re ready to kick off some meaningful work. Many thanks to the reviewers and AHRC panel members who gave us outstanding commendations and to our research development colleagues at Coventry University, who were part of the bid development.

What’s FAiR About?

FAiR stands for Frugal Artist-in-Residence Programme for Playful and Co-Creative Community Engagement in Environmental Awareness and Impact. We are collaborating with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) (the CreativeCulture team) to bring engaging and creative art-based activities to coastal fishing communities in Malaysia. Our mission is to enhance environmental awareness and promote sustainable practices through art and community collaboration. FAiR builds on the playful and frugal community-engaged approaches developed through our previous collaborations in the ESRC ACES and AHRC CreativeCulture projects. FAiR is due to start in August for the next 12 months.

Our Plans

1. Bringing Communities Together: We will be partnering with local artists and students to foster creativity and raise environmental awareness in coastal villages. Think of transforming plastic waste into art or creating useful installations like water filters and artificial reefs from reusable materials. We are merging art and science (STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) to create a positive impact.
2. Creating Long-Lasting Change: Our goal is to establish a sustainable model that other communities can adopt. We aim to demonstrate the powerful role of arts in education and community engagement, driving socio-cultural, environmental, and economic development.

Why Coastal Malaysia?

We are focusing on the communities of Salak-Santubong Bay, which face challenges like poor waste management and limited access to STEM education. By using creative STEAM approaches, we aim to bring fresh perspectives on scientific research and conservation efforts to these resilient communities.

Upcoming Activities

We have some exciting plans, including beach festivals, co-creation activities, artist residencies, and art installations designed to foster discussions and knowledge sharing about environmental issues. Our approach aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), blending art and science for a sustainable future.

Meet the Team

I am thrilled to continue our collaborations with talented colleagues, including Dr. Jacey-Lynn Minoi and Dr. Aazani Mujahid from UNIMAS, and Dr. Petros Lameras and Alex Masters from Coventry University. We are also partnering with the Malaysian Society for Marine Sciences, the Village Development and Security Committee, and the Neighbourhood Community (KJM Salak) of Kuching North City.

Looking Forward

Our goal is to inspire young people in these coastal communities to engage with their environment. They will gain hands-on experience in fields, such as marine biology, ecology, and climate science, fostering a sense of responsibility and stewardship for their surroundings.

Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this exciting journey to empower communities through creative and meaningful art!

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