Two winning works from the “Plastic Arts for the Ocean” competition on display at the Ministry

Two winning works from the “Arts en plastiques pour l’Océan” 2021 competition are on display at the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sport.

On 22 November, the opening of this exhibition took place, preceded by a videoconference with the winning classes, in the presence of Jean-Michel Blanquer – Minister of National Education and Sabine Roux de Bézieux – President of the Fondation de la Mer.

Plastic Arts for the Ocean: a competition to raise awareness among all pupils of the issues surrounding plastic pollution in the ocean

The Fondation de la Mer has signed a partnership agreement with the French Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports to develop new educational tools on the Ocean.

In this context, it is organising the Plastic Arts for the Ocean competition, which invites pupils to create works of art using used plastic materials.

Open to all classes from cycle 1 to 4 since 2019, it raises pupils’ awareness of plastic pollution, which endangers all forms of marine animal and plant life, with serious consequences for human societies.

More broadly, the competition allows pupils to discover the issues related to the sustainable development of the sea.

copyright Philippe Devernay /MENJS

An exceptional videoconference with the winning students

🗣”Through your commitment, be an example for other schools, other establishments (…) We must act positively, serenely in favour of sustainable development.” Jean-Michel Blanquer, Minister of National Education.

🗣”The health of the planet and human health are linked. Each of us can contribute to the good health of our planet. You can all have a positive impact on the environment.” Sabine Roux de Bézieux, President of the Fondation de la Mer.

copyright Philippe Devernay /MENJS

“Megaplasticus, the terror of the seas” La Sine College, Nice Academy, France

“Megaplasticus was born from a concern we had in our school. We had organised an “anti-waste” action in the canteen. But the kitchen, having staff absent, served the 700 pupils plastic cutlery. This provoked reactions from the pupils who found it scandalous.

As a result, we met in a pedagogical council and decided that the school would never use plastic cutlery again, and that the remaining stock would be diverted from its original use, hence this sculpture. The eco-delegates and teachers took it in turns to make Megaplasticus to denounce the misuse of single-use plastic and its devastating consequences.

Sandra Foucher, teacher at La Sine College

“A continent to recycle”, Jules Ferry primary school, Montpellier Academy, France

“Our class read and discussed the album Zélie et le 6e continent by Sabine Hautefeuille. This book tells the story of a sea turtle discovering a new continent made of plastic waste. The students were very touched by this story and by the consequences of pollution on the health of marine animals (the turtle accidentally gets its shell stuck in a hoop which prevents it from growing, other turtles mistake a plastic bag for a jellyfish…) and wanted to be inspired by it.

The sea turtle they created is entirely covered with plastic waste brought from home by the students: broken toys, clothes pegs, Swiss cheese and yoghurt pots, felt pens, corks, plastic beads, potato nets, etc.

Idoya Mendiabal, teacher at the Jules Ferry Primary School