SETU Students Transform Old Newspapers into Sustainable 3D Art

First-year Visual Arts students at South East Technological University (SETU) Waterford have unveiled an innovative art project that repurposes discarded copies of the Waterford News & Star into sculptural 3D forms. The initiative, launched in April 2026, demonstrates how waste materials can be transformed into functional and expressive art through sustainable design practices.

The project involved pulverizing old newspaper copies into a clay-like substance, which students then reshaped into various forms including small figurines, shark-inspired structures, and artisan flower vases. These sculptures were designed to either interact with light or hold small amounts of water, blending aesthetic appeal with practical utility.

Sustainability at the Core of Student Learning

Dr Eimear Higdon, assistant lecturer in SETU’s Visual Arts programme, emphasized that sustainability is not just an environmental consideration but a foundational skill for emerging artists. “It’s really essential, first and foremost for the environment, but also for the students and artists today…even economically, to be able to recycle and not have to purchase materials,” she stated.

The initiative aims to instill sustainable habits early in students’ academic journeys. By integrating recycled material techniques into first-year coursework, SETU ensures that ecological consciousness becomes a natural part of students’ creative processes as they progress through their studies.

Encouraging Reflection Through Art

Beyond material reuse, the artwork is intended to prompt viewers to slow down and contemplate the lifecycle of everyday objects. Displaying once-discarded newspapers as vibrant, living forms serves as a metaphor for renewal and the potential inherent in what is often considered waste.

“Through once-haggard copies of old newspapers, students were able to produce small figurines, the winding bodies of a shark and artisan flower vases,” the project description notes, highlighting the versatility of the repurposed medium.

Broader Context of Student Engagement at SETU

This art project follows other recent student-led initiatives at SETU Waterford, including public demonstrations concerning government funding and accommodation challenges. While those events addressed systemic student concerns, the newspaper sculpture project reflects a constructive, creative response to environmental and resource issues.

SETU continues to support interdisciplinary projects that connect artistic expression with real-world applications, particularly in sustainability and community engagement.

Key Takeaways

• SETU Visual Arts students used pulverized Waterford News & Star copies to create 3D sculptures.
• The artworks are designed to absorb light or hold water, combining form and function.
• Sustainability is a core learning objective, taught from the first year of study.
• The project promotes reflection on waste, renewal, and responsible material use.
• Dr Eimear Higdon highlighted environmental, educational, and economic benefits of recycling in art.

By transforming local newspaper waste into meaningful art, SETU students exemplify how creative education can drive environmental awareness and practical innovation. Their work reinforces the value of seeing potential in overlooked materials—a lesson that extends far beyond the classroom.