

BLUE17CIRCLES Germany
Nationwide climate art campaign for Earth Day 2026
School pupils and students from 17 major German cities are using art made from recycled shoes to send a message about climate protection and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.



BERLIN Brandenburger-Tor / Pariser Platz
Freiherr von Stein-Gymnasium
BREMEN Marktplatz/Rathaus
Wilhelm Olbers Oberschule
DORTMUND Dortmunder U
Stadtgymnasium
DRESDEN Frauenkirche
Oberschule 121 Neumark
DÜSSELDORF Kunstpalast
Carl-Benz-Realschule
FRANKFURT Goetheplatz
Louise- von- Rothschild-Schule
HEIDELBERG Alte Brücke (Nordseite)
St. Raphael Schule
HAMBURG Elbphilharmonie
Rahlstedt Gymnasium
HANNOVER Maschpark
Tellkampfschule
KARLSRUHE ZKM Glaskubus
Walter Eucken Schule
KASSEL Herkulesdenkmal
GC-Lichtenberg-Schule
KIEL Kiellinie / am Wasser
Max-Planck-Schule
KÖLN Norbert-Burger-Platz
Liebfrauenschule
LEIPZIG Augustus Platz / Oper
Wolfgang-Mutzeck-Schule
MÜNCHEN Königsplatz
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
NÜRNBERG Dutzendteich
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität
STUTTGART Schlossplatz
Neues Gymnasium Leibniz
On Earth Day – Wednesday, 22 April 2026 – Blue Demonstration, together with media artist Nicola Pragera and schools and universities from 17 major German cities, will realise the project ‘Blue17Circles – Germany’.
The aim is to take a holistic approach to climate protection, combining education, awareness-raising, practical action and creative forms of expression.
On the day of the campaign, large-scale circular installations made from old shoes painted blue will be created simultaneously in central locations in 17 cities. What would otherwise have ended up in the rubbish bin is transformed here into an impressive work of art.
The collected shoes represent diversity – and responsibility. They come from people of different genders, backgrounds, age groups, interests and life realities. The shoes themselves are just as diverse: high heels and hiking boots, children's shoes and sports shoes, small and large sizes. Each pair tells its own story and represents the small steps that individuals have taken to reduce CO₂ emissions.
Blue17Circles – Germany is a hybrid work of climate art that takes place both analogously and digitally – as a call for a change in thinking.
A nationwide networked work of art, created by young people from all parts of the country, which represents the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals in a special way.