Urban Sustainability and Circular Arts: Reimagining Etno Selo as a Cultural-Ecological Educational Platform in Skopje, RN Macedonia
Viktorija Mangaroska

This proposal examines how artistic and performative practices can advance urban sustainability at Etno Selo, a cultural complex on the urban edge of Skopje, North Macedonia. Reimagined as a pedagogical space, Etno Selo becomes a “living laboratory” where site-specific art, eco-pedagogy, and traditional knowledge foster engagement with circular natures, emphasizing material cycles, ecological processes, and cultural continuity. The project introduces installations, performances, and community interventions grounded in circular economy principles such as reuse, regeneration, and low-waste systems. Circular pedagogies involve hands-on, collaborative learning rooted in place and traditional ecological knowledge, including workshops on composting, local dyeing, and repair practices. As a circular cultural hub, Etno Selo hosts artists, educators, students, and residents who co-create experiences linking environmental awareness and cultural continuity. The initiative supports COST Action CA23117 by offering a replicable model for circular education in cultural and urban contexts, highlighting art-based, participatory methods for resilient, sustainable communities.