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International Erasmus+ Programme in TU Dublin School of Art and Design explores Nature Worship through Art, Design, Cultural Heritage and Contemporary print
The Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) Art & Cities 2026: Myth and Print in Contemporary Design – Nature Worship brought together 53 students and educators from Ireland, Latvia, France and Italy at TU Dublin’s School of Art and Design from 26 to 30 October 2026. The programme explored historical and contemporary traditions of nature worship, ecology and cultural memory, while encouraging participants to develop creative responses to contemporary environmental challenges. Under the theme Nature Worship, participants examined their relationship with natural world, plants, landscapes and rituals that have shaped cultural identities across Europe and beyond. Through workshops and practical experimentation, students engaged with these traditions while exploring environmentally conscious artistic practices, including eco-printing, painting with natural dyes and pigments, and storytelling in calligraphy.
An intensive week was dedicated to exploring connections with nature through a sensory walk guided by Micíal Murray. The following days featured a series of hands-on creative workshops, including eco-printing led by Aija Freimane, Ebru marbling facilitated by Meral Coşkun (Turkey), scent-making with Kaethe Burt O’Dea, painting with natural earth minerals introduced by Ben Readman, calligraphy led by Latvian designer Elina Elere, and creative writing and storytelling sessions led by poet and storyteller Patrick Chapman. Working with natural materials and exploring diverse artistic practices, including printmaking, painting, creative writing and sensory exploration through scent, students were encouraged to imagine new ways of connecting with nature and to cultivate a deeper sense of respect, care and appreciation for the natural world.
Numerous academics and artists contributed to broadening students’ perspectives by sharing their expertise, practices and creative work across the fields of art, ecology, heritage and design during a virtual component. Contributors included Latvian textile historian Dr Anete Karlsone, architect and environmental artist Iván Juárez, Irish artist Siobhán McDonald, designer Linda Spillane, and Czech artist Veronika Vlková. Through a combination of online lectures, independent research into plants with personal significance to each participant, and the creation of video reflections, students contributed to a shared storytelling process exploring relationships with the natural world, cultural traditions, and both natural and cultural heritage.
Working collaboratively across cultures, students combined research, storytelling and creative experimentation to develop original artworks and conceptual proposals addressing pressing ecological questions. The programme culminated in a public exhibition on 30 October 2026, showcasing the participants’ creative outcomes and collective interpretations of nature worship. The exhibition demonstrated how art and design can foster intercultural understanding, encourage reflection on environmental responsibility, and inspire new perspectives on sustainable futures.
The program was organised and hostel by the TU Dublin School of Art and Design in collaboration with Riga Technical University (Latvia) and Brno Technological University (Czech Republic).