Preserving pasts | Imagining futures

In the run-up to the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), the National Galleries of Scotland and National Library of Scotland are inviting visitors to respond creatively to works from the national collections to visualise how Scotland has been and will continue to be impacted by the climate and ecological emergency, unless decisive action is taken.

Teams in both organisations have collaborated to select objects and artworks that depict five landscapes across Scotland. Each represents a key theme of climate change we are experiencing in Scotland as well as globally. These include sea level rise, biodiversity, land use and agriculture, low carbon energy production and transport. All areas selected are already being impacted by a multitude of interwoven climate change factors, affecting communities and environments.

The eyes of the world will turn to Scotland as COP26 comes to Glasgow in November 2021. We are asking visitors to get creative and share their vision of a changing Scotland.

How to get involved

• Take a look at the paintings, artworks, maps and films we have selected depicting the Outer Hebrides, Fife, the Clyde Basin, the Cairngorms and Edinburgh on the project web page.

• Think about how these places might have changed since the depictions were made or how they might change in the future.

• Let your creative juices flow! You might respond by taking a photograph, writing a poem or short story, creating a drawing, painting or computer graphic or recording a piece of audio.

• Send them to us at [email protected] by 23:59 on Monday, 25 October.

•  Please note that we can only accept email submissions at this time due to ongoing COVID restrictions.

• The project aims to start a conversation about climate change, so there is no prize. However, we will publish as many of the responses as we can on our websites and social media channels with full credit during COP 26 in November.

• By sending your work to the address above, you permit the National Galleries of Scotland and National Library of Scotland to share your submission on their respective websites, external marketing communication, third party social media channels and on site without payment.