Creative youngsters from a Glasgow primary school, have marked Clean Air Day 2021 in style, with digital artwork highlighting the impacts of air pollution, projected onto city landmarks.
A combination of still images and stop-motion animation all created by the talented children of St Joseph’s Primary School, was projected onto the Riverside Museum, Buchanan Galleries and St Luke’s in Calton to highlight Clean Air Day, which is themed this year on ‘Protecting Our Children’s Future’.
Polluted air can adversely affect everyone, especially the most vulnerable – the very young, the elderly and those with pre-existing heart and lung conditions, and so the imaginative and thoughtful artwork from St Joseph’s sought to draw out those impacts as part of their learning and to raise general awareness.
Cllr Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction said: “Clean Air Day is a fantastic campaign which highlights nationally, the impacts of air pollution and the steps we can all take to improve the quality of the air we breathe. The children of St Joseph’s are clearly enthused around this issue and their artwork is wonderful.
“Whether it’s through the development of our Low Emission Zone or policies that support and encourage active and more sustainable travel for everyday journeys, we are working hard to deliver on our commitment to cleaning up the city’s air.”
Laura Slinger, Principal Teacher at St Joseph’s Primary School said: “Our children thoroughly enjoyed creating digital artwork on the theme of air pollution to mark this year’s Clean Air Day. The whole school was involved, and their imaginations ran wild, producing drawings, 3-D models, videos and stop-motion animations. To see the artwork projected in this way is truly wonderful and has delighted and inspired the children who’ve all worked so diligently.”
John Bynorth, Policy and Communications Officer with Environmental Protection Scotland (EPS), Co-ordinators of Clean Air Day in Scotland, said: “School children from across Glasgow have played a big part in the success of Clean Air Day since the campaign launched five years ago. The pupils have yet again produced amazing artwork to encourage people to leave the car at home, consider cycling, walking and other sustainable travel choices which improve the health and well-being of everyone in this beautiful city.”
Clean Air Day is the UK’s largest air pollution campaign, bringing together communities, businesses, schools and the health sector to improve understanding of air pollution. In Scotland, the campaign is coordinated by Environmental Protection Scotland (EPS), on behalf of the Scottish Government; working with UK organisers Global Action Plan.
This year, Clean Air Day will be marked on Thursday 17 June.
