Cultural engagement as a learning environment in the artistic encounter zone SPA_LOW_SKY.

The article focuses on the creation of an artistic encounter zone in Vienna's Spalowskygasse within the educational quarter 'Bildungsgrätzl Mariahilf,' developed through service-learning (SL) and engaged learning approaches. This project involves artists, schools, universities, and local residents collaborating to transform a car-free pedestrian zone into a creative public space using recycled and upcycled materials, fostering community participation and sustainable urban development. The initiative integrates curricular content with real-world urban planning challenges, emphasizing empowerment, social responsibility, and democratic participation inspired by educational theorists John Dewey and artist Joseph Beuys. Early phases included workshops where students designed and built functional art installations, demonstrating the potential of SL to connect education with societal engagement and cultural heritage.