‘Whatever the limitations of our life, we are still free to choose which version of reality – or story about our world – we value and want to serve. We can choose to align with business as usual, the unravelling of living systems, or the creation of a life-sustaining society.’ Joanna Macy
This is a peer learning event intended to bring together those concerned about climate change and who have an interest in what role the arts might play within this. The arts readily lend themselves to fostering imagination and play in our world, vital for living through difficulty. In particular, this event asks what role the arts might play in affecting sustained system and behaviour change in response to the climate and ecological crisis? How might we connect artists’ practices and citizen-led movements to governmental and corporate change? And more immediately, how can we connect individuals and communities with one another locally in Stirling and nationally across Scotland to take action around this issue and learn from those already involved? We will hear from both artists and spend time in discussion rooms to bring together a range of ideas, perspectives and experiences of those in attendance on the evening with a view to practical action and steps at the events close.
Beth Dynowski is an artist, parent, teacher and organiser. Her work explores the poetic and political nature of experimenting with materials and language. She also runs projects that explore issues of access, power and equality in and through the arts. Her practice doesn’t address climate change directly. She will speak from the perspective of a citizen and a parent, looking to learn about how to live with the knowledge of climate change in our daily lives, from both a practical and poetic perspective. See more here: http://www.bethdynowski.com/
Jonathan Baxter is an artist, curator and peer-educator. Jonathan works under the auspices of A+E, a conceptual framework that braids the terms accident and emergency, art and ecology, art and education. Past projects include Dundee Urban Orchard (2013-2017), a city-wide art and horticulture project, and Future Fruit for Deveron Projects, Huntly (2019-20), a Geddesian reframing of Huntly’s community orchard. Current projects include Sharing Not Hoarding (2015-ongoing), a public art project in Dundee’s Waterfront Development, a Craigmillar and Communities Walking Residency with Art Walk Projects (2021-22), and the imminent launch of an art and ecology programme at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh (2021-30). See more here: https://jonathanbaxter.me/
