From April 10 to June 8, 2026, MOA invited local school groups to participate in Art Takes Action, a feature workshop that explored the intersections of artivism, environmental stewardship, and Indigenous land sovereignty.

Six classes of elementary students completed this program, along with an activity inspired by the Ghost Nets sculptures in MOA’s Multiversity Galleries. The students were tasked with making artworks depicting important animals native to Musqueam territory, using discarded plastic materials from the museum as their art supplies. Some students used sheets of plastic to create prints, and others made images using stamps carved from blocks of Styrofoam. The students were also invited to make realistic commitments – promises they could actually keep – to help protect the environment, and write them down on the front of their artworks.

Here are their creations:

We hope that as you visit this page, you imagine the students’ artworks as a thriving ecosystem of creatures, and take up their invitation to reflect on the importance of protecting the lands and waters around us. We also hope that the students’ commitments inspire you to take action too, and serve as a reminder that we all have the power to be changemakers and caretakers of our environment.