Circular Creativity.
Measured Impact.
Transforming communities through participatory art, recycled materials, and hands-on circular economy education.
About Cuttle CIC
Cuttle CIC is a pioneering Community Interest Company based in Leicester, dedicated to bridging the gap between environmental sustainability and community wellbeing.
We believe that "waste" is simply a resource in the wrong place. Through our participatory public art projects, we empower local communities to transform recycled and discarded materials into meaningful, large-scale artworks.
Our mission is two-fold: to provide accessible, hands-on circular economy education, and to foster social cohesion through collaborative creativity. We measure our impact not just in the carbon emissions saved, but in the connections forged and the skills developed within the community.
Our Core Pillars
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Circular Economy Education Teaching sustainable practices through hands-on learning.
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Community Cohesion Bringing diverse groups together to collaborate on shared goals.
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Participatory Public Art Creating beautiful, lasting installations from upcycled materials.
Projects
Active commissions, concluded programmes, and what is coming next.
Our City Our Stories
A suspended recycled paper pulp map of Leicester, made with homeless community participants across four workshops. Commissioned for the Samworth Gallery. National Lottery Heritage Fund supported.
Many Hands One Art
A city-wide participatory programme building toward a world record attempt at Haymarket in July 2026. 400 to 500 participants contributing to a large-scale recycled artwork.
Trash to Art Workshop (Pilot)
Community participatory workshops turning discarded materials into sculpture and installation. 500+ participants across 19 workshops. Shown at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, Two Queens Gallery, Haymarket, Curve Theatre, LCB Depot, and Soft Touch Arts. BBC Radio Leicester. DMU SDG Awards 2025 Highly Commended.
View Project ↗The Residue Symposium
Creativity at the End of Things. A circular economy convening.
📅 13–15 January 2027, Leicester
Carbon Literacy Refresher Session
A focused one-hour online Refresher Session that helped previous Carbon Literacy learners revisit key sustainability concepts, refresh their understanding of climate action, and strengthen their commitment to environmental responsibility.
Businesses, charities, educational institutions and community organisations joined us to re-energise their sustainability journey. Interested in Carbon Literacy training for your team? Get in touch.
- ✓ Key Carbon Literacy principles and updates.
- ✓ The latest sustainability and climate considerations for organisations.
- ✓ Practical actions to reduce environmental impact.
- ✓ How Carbon Literacy supports CSR and organisational sustainability goals.
Initiatives
The institutions we are building for circular art: reference works, awards, fellowships and networks.
The Leicester Materials Library
A curated sample collection and published catalogue of Leicester's waste streams: touchable materials beside their technical data. A specification manual, a supply chain reference, and the city's first material strategy.
Preview Sept 2026 · Launch Jan 2027
Trash to Art: A Methodology
The published manual for our practice, drawn from 50+ workshops with 500+ participants, with the Materials Library catalogue as its working case study.
Publishing January 2027
The Cuttle Award for Circular Art
An annual prize for an emerging Midlands artist whose work uses waste or reclaimed material as a primary medium: a cash prize, certificate, and a platform within our programme.
Nominations open autumn 2026
The Cuttle Fellowship
One emerging artist a year named Cuttle Fellow: mentoring in participatory, materials-led practice plus a paid delivery slot in our workshop programme.
First Fellow named 2027
Midlands Circular Artists Network
A network for artists, makers and facilitators across the Midlands working with waste and reclaimed material: a shared directory, a quarterly bulletin, and a scattered field finding itself.
Sign up ↗Leicester Recycled Art Day
One day a year when Leicester makes art from what it throws away: venues across the city hosting open recycled-art activity on the same date, tied together by a shared count of materials diverted.
Date and partners to be announced
The People Behind Cuttle
Trained as a civil engineer in Nigeria before earning an MSc in Architecture and Sustainability at De Montfort University in the UK, Chubby brings a unique, highly technical perspective to participatory art.
As a visual artist, sustainability educator, and the driving force behind Cuttle CIC, Chubby bridges the gap between structural engineering and creative expression. His work demonstrates how technical knowledge and artistic vision can combine to solve community and environmental challenges.
Credentials & Recognitions
- • Arts Council England Global Talent
- • Carbon Literacy Certified Facilitator
- • Chartered Institute of Waste Management Member
The Residue Symposium
Creativity at the End of Things
Dates
Tuesday 13 – Thursday 15 January 2027
Venues
Days 1 & 2: DMU Innovation Centre, Leicester
Day 3: LCB Depot, Leicester
Entry
Free
Expected Attendees
400 – 500
A three-day circular economy convening organised by Cuttle CIC, bringing together artists, organisations, and policymakers to reimagine waste, materials, and creative reuse.
Register Interest ↗Contact Us
Whether you want to collaborate, commission a project, or learn more about our programmes — we'd love to hear from you.