Management of Leather Scraps Among Senior High School Visual Art Students in Ghana

 The importance of leatherwork cannot be overemphasised in society. In Ghana, leatherwork creates a source of livelihood for visual art students and graduates. However, leatherwork activities lead to the generation of hazardous waste which can negatively impact the environment and society. These wastes, if managed properly, could serve as low-cost inputs for artwork that would provide benefits to the environment and artists. This study investigates how visual art students in one senior high school in Ghana use their leather scraps for up-cycled artwork. Items produced, techniques used and factors considered in determining the usefulness of leather scraps generated from practical leatherwork activities are considered. The research used a descriptive qualitative research design. The principal instrument used to collect data was interviews and observation. A total of 21 students, selected purposively, formed the sample population. Thematic data analysis approaches were used to make meaning from the data. Findings from the study revealed that most students use leather scraps to make small to medium-sized items for non-commercial purposes. Patchwork, thonging and applique featured as the most prominently used techniques. The size and extent of defects also determined the usefulness of leather scraps. It was concluded that leather scraps can be used either as a supporting or dominating material for making leather articles; and joining is a prerequisite for using leather scraps as a dominating material. It is recommended that further studies be conducted to understand the effect of joining techniques on product durability, effort and time efficiency.