Our vision

It is standard practice in the print media industry to recycle all undistributed/unsold copies, usually through companies specialising in paper recycling.

The vision of the upcycling project Art Shedia is summed up in the following sentence:

Energizing and empowering people, who experience homelessness and social exclusion through participation, education and training as well as the creating employment opportunities and promoting the development of best environmental practices.

For the future, we want:

  • participants to act as a source of inspiration and motivation for others to develop social enterprises.
  • to support even more people support themselves through a participation program.
  • to help raise awareness and mobilize all citizens for a more eco-friendly way of life.

This practice is a step in the right direction. However, it does not take full advantage of the existing possibilities so as to achieve maximum environmental impact.Alternative waste management is internationally prioritised as such: prevention, reuse, recycling, upcycling, regaining (of materials and energy) and, finally, landfills.

The upcycling project of Shedia street paper is a programme that adheres to this order of priorities as closely as possible. It brings together social enterprise, education, participation, social (re)integration, creativity, innovation and the raising of environmental awareness.

The ‘Shediαρτ’ social project aims to create educational and training as well as employment opportunities for people who are homeless and/or live well below the poverty line, experiencing social exclusion at its most extreme, while actively encouraging and promoting their full social (re)integration.

Initially, the programme is based on the following key areas of action:

1. Upcycling of older, unsold copies of Shedia street paper and their transformation into new products. The process of upcycling adds value through the transformation of “useless” paper into high quality, useful products that have high aesthetic appeal.

2. The presentation, promotion and sale of all the paper products through a gallery (showroom)/social business in the centre of Athens (initially) as well as through an online platform (e-shop). At the same time, a wholesale network is operating, making the products available for sale through selected outlets (retail businesses, as well government services, offices etc.) in Greece and abroad.

3. The establishment of a small café right next to the showroom and the workshop areas. In this way, all activities are combined with the provision of basic catering services (coffee, tea, light snacks etc.). It will be a meeting point and an innovation hub.

Information

  Kolokotroni 56, 10560 Athens
213 023 1220

  Opening Hours
Sunday – Thursday 8:30 am.– 1 am.
Friday – Saturday 8:30 am. – 3am

For reservations please call 213 0231220 or contact us using our email info@shediart.gr.

Who we are, and what we offer, in a few words:

• A social enterprise for upcycled products, along with a gallery-café, which operates along a showroom and retail sales point.
• Upcycled products for daily use, special events, presents, home decoration etc, made by reusing (upcycling) undistributed (unsold) copies of “Shedia” street paper. From pencils to lampshades, from bags to earrings.
• Workshops and the entire production process are open to the public. Those who are interested, can come in, get informed, present their own plans, share their ideas, take part in our workshops and events and visit our special exhibitions. In the cozy, warm gallery-café, which is also, to a large extent, fitted with reused/recycled materials, various activities, happenings and events are organized for everyone.The area is also available for hire for your event (birthday party, meeting, workshop etc.).
• Our supporters (buyers, etc.) are socially active and responsible citizens who are interested in handmade and eco-designed products, either for personal used or as a corporate gift or for the office etc.

The project is not just about pointing at the problem of social injustices and environmental challenges, but it is about actively implementing sustainable solutions.