Environmental education and art: visual arts as a tool for ecological education in primary schools in Cuba

The research addressed environmental education in Cuba as an essential educational process that, since the Revolution, has been linked to the need to educate citizens who are aware of the connection between society and nature. It was emphasised that the global environmental crisis originated in unsustainable development models and that Cuba, although affected by these effects and by the economic blockade, has prioritised education as a means of reversing this deterioration. Environmental education was defined as a continuous process, integrated at all levels of education, with the aim of promoting values, habits and knowledge that enable harmonious coexistence with the environment. The contributions of international conferences and national strategies in promoting this discipline were highlighted, as well as its inclusion in formal, informal and community programmes. Particular emphasis was placed on the role of the visual arts as a teaching resource to raise awareness among students from an early age. Art was identified as a tool capable of communicating and transforming attitudes towards the environment, highlighting movements such as ecological art or land art and local experiences such as community projects led by Cuban artists. Finally, an environmental assessment was presented in the municipality of Arroyo Naranjo and at the Jesús Miguel Iglesias primary school, where a system of educational activities through the visual arts was designed for 5th grade students, with the aim of improving their environmental awareness and commitment.