Projects

The Zurich University of the Arts initiates and develops projects that make approaches to sustainability in art and design visible, bring them into the public sphere, and generate new knowledge. They strengthen a culture of sustainability and create spaces for exchange, experimentation, and new artistic and design perspectives.

  • Urban Waters

    “Urban Waters” invites visitors to rediscover water as a habitat, resource, and cultural element. Through art installations, performances, concerts, and workshops, the festival creates a public space for encounter, exchange, and reflection on the role of water in urban life and society.

    By connecting art, nature, and everyday experiences, the festival offers diverse ways to engage with ecological and social questions surrounding water.

    Urban Waters 2026
    Urban Waters 2025

    Visual
    Visual

  • Clothing Swap

    Sometimes it doesn’t take much to give old things new life – often, all it takes is a piece of clothing finding a new home with someone else. More than 250 kg of clothing and accessories have already been passed on and rediscovered at previous clothing swap events.

    The clothing swap takes place once each spring semester and once each autumn semester.

    To the project

    clothes swap
    Visual

  • Sustainship

    Between 2021 and 2024, the Zurich University of the Arts participated in the SCNAT U Change programme with the project “Sustainship – Sustainability in the Arts and Design.” One part focused on embedding sustainability in education, mediation, and knowledge transfer, while the other supported practice-oriented student projects on an annual basis.

    The report, published in 2025, provides an overview of Sustainship – from its initial context and activities to its results and key insights.

    Publication Sustainship