A 4-day virtual event for artists, activists and artivists to transform waste into art, champion sustainability, and fuel their creative resilience.
September 24th to 27th, 2026
Turn creative reuse into collective action by transforming discarded materials into art, advocating for sustainability, and fostering a joyful, resilient community that rewrites the narrative of how we live, create, and impact the world.
Watch the video below to learn more:
Turning creative reuse into collective action takes a whole lot more than just good intentions — it requires community, skills, and the courage to reimagine what’s possible.
If we approach this process the right way, it will help advocate for sustainability and spark joy!
Yes, you’re getting a lot of things right:
You’re picking up trash on your walks, maybe you’re already using that trash in your art
And you’re saving non-recyclable bits of plastic, and weaving them into your art practice
But... chances are you’re struggling with the emotional weight of climate change and not knowing how to make a tangible difference through your art.
Maybe right now you’re....
Feeling alone in your passion for repurposing and sustainability
Lacking confidence or technical know how to turn discarded materials into art
Balancing activism, creativity, and personal well-being
Missing a supportive network to share ideas, collaborate, and amplify impact
Feeling unheard or dismissed when advocating for creative reuse in a consumer-driven society
Struggling to stay inspired or innovative in their repurposing efforts
…And you’re feeling exhausted by this growing mental load.
There’s got to be a better way!
While you dream of an art practice that turns reuse into collective joy and action, you also worry it will take too much time, require skills you don’t have, or leave you feeling isolated and overwhelmed.
How would it feel to....
Be genuinely energized and motivated to create and advocate
Gain practical techniques for repurposing and upcycling materials
Learn tools to stay joyful & grounded while tackling environmental challenges
Connect with like-minded artivists to collaborate and share ideas
Feel empowered to advocate for sustainability through your art
Rediscover the fun and fulfillment in creating with discarded materials
…And to develop a clear path to turn your creative reuse into impactful action?
This is exactly what you’ll experience at the Salvage Art Summit!
DURING THE SALVAGE ART SUMMIT YOU’LL LEARN HOW TO TRANSFORM CREATIVE REUSE INTO COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND JOY.
This is your opportunity to learn from 22 artists, activists, and educators about art-driven climate activism.
A collective of true leaders in this space!
MEET THE SPEAKERS
Check out the incredible lineup of The Artists, The Activists, and The Tenders you’ll learn from at The Salvage Art Summit!
The Artists
Grow your expertise with actionable workshops by makers and creators repurposing waste into work that shifts culture and fuels the climate movement
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Eco-artivism & Using Recycled Materials to Make Textile Art Installations
Kelsey Merreck Wagner, Ph.D.
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Using Alternative Painting Supports
Adriana G. Prat
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Follow the Material’s Story
Michelle Walker
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Rethinking Waste - With Fruit & Vegetable Bags
Sue Gascoyne
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Scavenging on Behalf of Our Descendants
Bee (Beverly) Naidus
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Site Specific Art & Live Performance
Eve Morgenstern
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Single Use Plastic as Cloth
Natalya Khorover
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Affirmation Quilts and Sustainability in Comfort
LUKE Haynes
The Activists
Sharpen your perspective with thought-provoking sessions by organizers, campaigners, and community builders using their voice and collective power to challenge systems and demand change
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How To Be an Activist Without Burn Out
Eve Fox
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The Trash Walker: Waste, Corporate Accountability, and the Fight for Reuse
Anna Sacks
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Transforming Science Into Action
Ilissa Ocko
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Action is Activism: A Volunteer's Journey
MarCy
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Two Volunteers, One Chapter, Countless Ripples
Camilla Calhoun (together with Liz Silverstein)
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Two Volunteers, One Chapter, Countless Ripples
Liz Silverstein (together with Camilla Calhoun)
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Finding Your Climate Superpowers
Madeleine MacGillivray
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Building a Global Cultural Movement
Tara DePorte
The Tenders
Preserve your energy and purpose with presentations by therapists, EFT practitioners, somatic healers, bodyworkers, sustaining the artivists so the movement doesn't burn out
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Reclaim Your Power: How to become a more powerful force for change without losing yourself in the fight
Georgina Noel
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Sane and Creative in a World on Fire
Paola Fabbri
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The Art of Self-Sabotage
Ivy Kaminsky
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Activism Without the Should — How Do You Want to Show Up?
Sophie Acomat
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Permission to Rest
Shelagh Lenon
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The Energetic Salvage: Clearing Creative Blocks
Megan Billie
As you can see from this amazing value-packed lineup, this is an event you do not want to miss.
Click below to grab your free ticket and join us for The Salvage Art Summit!
Hi, I'm Natalya!
I'm an artivist, educator, and community builder with nearly 20 years of experience turning discarded materials — plastics, vintage linens, found objects — into art that speaks to consumption and environmental stewardship.
A Pratt Institute graduate, I've exhibited at Quilt National and ArtsWestchester, and taught at Craft Napa and the Hudson River Museum. As founder of the Repurposer Collective and host of the SALVAGE podcast, I help artists embrace repurposed materials and turn reuse into collective joy and action.
My mission: a movement where art and sustainability merge to spark change.
Join me and 22 thought leaders — I can't wait to see you there!
MEET YOUR HOST
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE SALVAGE ART SUMMIT:
when:
Thursday, September 24th to Sunday, September 27th, with a variety of presentations to choose from each day.
Where:
This event is entirely virtual, so you’ll be able to attend from anywhere in the world with internet access.
Art — making and creating with waste to shift culture and fuel the climate movement
Activism — organizing, campaigning, and building collective power to challenge systems and demand change
Wellbeing — tending to the artivists doing this work so the movement doesn't burn out
expert sessions:
Attend interactive workshops, thought provoking sessions and energy boosting activities from our lineup of 22 thought leaders with trainings on:
your free ticket includes:
24-hour Access
Fit these inspiring and creative presentations, wherever they fit in your day. You’ll have 24 hours to watch each presentation throughout the week, so that you can watch, listen, and create at your own pace.
Private Summit Community
Join our private community on Telegram and connect with artivists like you who are already hanging out and are working to transform creative reuse into collective joy and sustainable impact! This is where you’ll be able to connect with the speakers and other attendees before and during the event!
Chances to Win!
Show up and participate in the community for chances to win prizes throughout the summit! Be sure to keep an eye out for notifications and come hang out with us in the Telegram community for chances to win things like a yearly or monthly membership in the Repurposer Collective.
Upgrade For a VIP Experience!
After registering, you’ll have the chance to upgrade to the ReClaim Pass which includes ongoing access to the presentations after the summit wraps up, premium bonuses from our speakers, and more! You’ll get all the details (and a special offer) after grabbing your free ticket!
I am dedicated to helping you transform discarded materials into art and making the process as easy as possible. To help, you’ll hear about my Repurposer Collective here and there throughout the event.
On the final day, one lucky (and engaged) attendee will be selected to win a full scholarship and have instant access to all the Master Classes and the Live Resource Vault to make transformation easy.
Take a look at the details and apply! ⬅️
Scholarship
Co-Create Day
Watching actionable presentations is great, but to see real change happen you’ll have to take action. And doing so alongside likeminded artists is powerful.
That’s why we’ll have live, interactive events on the BONUS 4th day aka CO-CREATE DAY on Sunday, September 27th!
These sessions include:
MEMBERS PANEL
Join the members of Repurposer Collective as they chat about their collaborative project Current(s) of Connection
BEYOND the 3 R's
It's not Reduce, Reuse, Recycle anymore — join Natalya live as she breaks down her 10 R's framework and why the order matters more than you think.
(ReClaim Pass holders only!)
SPEAKER PANEL
Our speakers come together live for one last unscripted conversation — proof that every small act of reuse ripples further than you think.
YOU ARE THE RIPPLE
The summit's closing keynote — a call to see what happens when one small act of making ripples outward into something bigger than any of us alone; you've made something this week, and this is where we talk about how it doesn't stop here.
AND MORE!
These sessions take what you’ll learn throughout the week and turn it into real, collective action
Reuse Your Materials.
Reimagine the Narrative.
Revolutionize the Movement.
The Salvage Art Summit was specifically created for creative changemakers who see discarded materials as raw potential for art, activism, and change — people like you..
Artists & crafters who already work with reclaimed or repurposed materials and want to deepen their practice, sharpen their skills, and connect with others doing the same
Beginners who are new to creative reuse but drawn to the idea that their hands — and their trash — can be part of something bigger
Sustainability-minded creatives who care about environmental impact and are looking for a tangible, joyful way to act on that care
Artivists at the intersection of all three — people for whom art is the activism, and who want their creative work to carry weight beyond the studio
We’ll skip the basic tutorials you’ve seen a hundred times.
This summit helps you turn creative reuse into collective, lasting climate action.
I KNOW YOU’RE READY TO TAKE MEANINGFUL ACTION.
This summit is your opportunity to move beyond generic recycling hacks or doom-and-gloom climate messaging that leaves you drained, and finally turn creative reuse into collective action for sustainability and joy.
Grab your free ticket by clicking the link below and join us for the Salvage Art Summit!
HAVE QUESTIONS? WE’VE GOT ANSWERS
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If you're curious about creative reuse as a tool for climate action, this event is for you! We're speaking directly to artivists — artists, crafters, and beginners ready to turn waste into art and impact — and focusing on building community, skill, and resilience around sustainable creative practice, but anyone curious to get started is welcome to join us.
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The main portion of the summit runs from September 24th to the 25th with pre-party sessions happening the week of September 21st. You’ll also be able to join our private Telegram community as soon as you register, so you can join in on the fun right away!
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While most of the presentations for the summit are pre-recorded, there are some live elements, and the pre-recorded presentations are only available for 24 hours with your free ticket. So we encourage you to attend live if you can! We would love for you to set aside some time during the summit week to attend the live sessions, watch the pre-recorded presentations, and participate with others who are transforming creative reuse into collective action, community, and resilience.
However, if you’re not able to attend all of the sessions live, go ahead and grab your free ticket, and you’ll have the opportunity to upgrade to the ReClaim Pass for extended access.
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Your free ticket includes 24 hour access to each of the presentations. If you need more time, you can always upgrade your ticket to the ReClaim Pass after registering, which will give you extended access to the presentations along with premium bonuses from our speakers and more!
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To avoid tech glitches, give you the best possible experience, and keep things easy for the speakers, the presentations are pre-recorded and will be released at a scheduled time during the summit. However, most of the speakers will be hanging out in our private Telegram group with dedicated threads where you can connect with them and ask your questions! There will also be opportunities to join us for bonus live events throughout the week.
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No. When you register, you’ll be added to the Salvage Art Summit email list so we can send you updates for the event and links to each day’s presentations. After the summit is over, you’ll continue to hear from us, but you can unsubscribe at any time.
Each of the speakers will have free resources available that you can access by providing an email address, but the speakers will not get your email address unless you choose to give it to them specifically. That way, you only hear from the people you really love and don't have to worry about getting added to 21 email lists that you're not interested in.
You can learn more in our Privacy Policy.
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Yes. All presentations have closed captioning, and notes are also available for each presentation with our upgrade options that you’ll see after registering for the event.
Please reach out if there’s anything we can do to ensure you’re able to enjoy this event.
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If you still have questions, we encourage you to go ahead and sign up. Your questions will likely be answered during the event or in the Telegram community, which you’ll be able to join right away after grabbing your free ticket.
However, if you need to ask us a question before registering, feel free to send us an email at SalvageArtSummit@gmail.com
Grab your FREE TICKET and join us for the Salvage Art Summit today!
Salvage Art Summit is sponsored by:
