Cultivating friendship with materials: Remida’s new training programme

The scent of paper, the softness of a fabric, the light filtering through coloured glass: matter is not merely what surrounds us, but a presence capable of fostering connections, imagination and knowledge.

It is from this reflection that “Cultivating Friendship with Materials” has emerged – a training programme organised by Remida, scheduled for 18 and 19 September at the Caffarri Research Centre, Remida’s headquarters, at Via Gioia 4, Reggio Emilia.

This training programme invites educators, teachers and professionals to reflect on the role of materiality in educational processes and on the possibility of conceiving of ecological education – and political action – as a form of friendship with things. ‘The materiality of the things that share our space is just as important as the meanings they embody: from objects, they become subjects that help us understand the world, like true friends or companions on an adventure.’

The programme will begin with a tour of the Caffarri premises and an introduction to the Remida project, before moving on to discussions and workshops exploring the narrative potential of waste materials and the creation of new shared imaginaries.

The second part of the training will focus on the Summer Camp experience and on exploring recycled materials as playmates, tools for exploration and opportunities to rethink the relationship between people, the environment and the community.

The event will take place on Friday 18 September, from 10.00 to 18.00, and on Saturday 19 September, from 10.00 to 13.00.
The cost of attendance is 100 euros per person.

Saturday’s programme will also feature the Neighbourhood Festival, an event open to the community to share experiences, meet people and enjoy each other’s company at Remida.
The event will take place in the afternoon, from 4 pm to 8 pm, with free entry subject to availability.

For further information and to register, please visit the Remida website.