Abstract
This article describes practice-led research focused on a teaching project in Ilavalai, Sri Lanka that involves socially engaged art (SEA) and science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) workshops centred around a local community challenge, or, ‘a wicked problem’, in this case, the community issue of ocean and beach pollution. The project explores questions around how art can be a vehicle for hope, resilience, rebuilding lives and community towards visioning, building, recovering futures as a cultural capacity. Theoretical underpinnings guiding the research and teaching in the context of place are connected to future-making through artful coalitions that decentre definitions of (D)development and (C)culture. The article details the workshop processes including images and videos of student work and concludes with a reflection on how using SEA and STEAM in a development context, side-by-side with partners, can support and empower communities in aspiring to and imagining hopeful, healthy and meaningful futures.