A wicked problem: The rising tide of pollution at Ilavalai Beach, Sri Lanka

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 futuremaking 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.