Schoolchildren turn Ria Formosa litter into public art in Olhão

The artistic panels were created by pupils from three school groups in the municipality as part of the LIXArte – Transforming Waste into Art project, which combines environmental education with artistic expression to raise awareness of marine litter.

The works, now installed near the embarkation point for the islands, were officially inaugurated by Olhão’s deputy mayor, Catarina Poço.

Students from the Dr Alberto Iria, Dr Francisco Fernandes Lopes and João da Rosa school groups created the panels using materials collected during beach clean-up initiatives in the Ria Formosa.

The project is coordinated by Europe Direct Algarve, part of the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR Algarve), with artistic direction by Olhão-based visual artist Joana Rocha.

Launched in 2021, LIXArte encourages schoolchildren across the Algarve to collect waste from beaches and coastal areas before transforming reusable materials into works of art.

The finished pieces are then displayed in public spaces throughout the region, helping draw attention to the growing problem of marine pollution while promoting recycling and environmental responsibility.

The newly installed artworks, positioned beside one of the Algarve’s busiest departure points for the Ria Formosa islands, are intended to serve as a lasting reminder of the importance of protecting one of Portugal’s most valuable natural ecosystems.

Michael Bruxo

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.