ABSTRACT
The linear thinking models of business-as-usual mindsets have reached the end of their effectiveness. In their place, problem-solving skills are required that go beyond a mere technical-financial approach. A growing number of academic researchers are eagerly looking to identify an essence of interconnecting competency needs that are required by the nature and implementation of sustainable development. Creative thinking skills are needed to form the essential sustainability competencies presented by UNESCO in 2018 and to support a future ‘sustainability citizenship’. There is great motivation within the arts and culture fields for participation in positive steps towards more sustainable futures, but how does one effectively harness the energies, inspiration, and deeply affective aspects of the cultural, visual, and aesthetic realms, to catalyse substantive transitions in global thinking? This chapter asks, What is a potential role of an international collaborative art process in catalysing competencies for a sustainable circular economy (CE)? As a case study, we review the operating model of the International Art Collaborations (INTAC) network of international universities, the learning process and the art projects created during the students' co-creation experiences. Based on this case study, it can be determined that international creative co-creation of art, and the collaborative process enabled by this, can be used as a methodological model for producing instrumental and strategic skills in line with sustainable development and CE.
