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Discover / Creative Wellness
Discover / Creative Wellness
As our planet's cries for help grow louder, the link between art and climate crisis offers a call to action. Climate change not only affects us scientifically but also emotionally and culturally. Art, in its various forms, becomes a powerful way to express, advocate, and inspire change. It bridges communication gaps, reaching people's hearts and motivating them not only to understand but also, to take action on this urgent matter. Artists, with their special power to portray the outcomes of our actions and the vulnerability of our planet, have a key role in the environmental conversation. They can bring to light the hidden and the unheard, making the abstract real and the faraway close.
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Art and the Call for Climate Justice
In recent years, coastal communities around the world have been hit by record flooding and extreme weather events because of the worsening climate crisis. Rising sea levels, caused by melting ice caps and warming oceans, have endangered countless lives, threatening jobs, homes, and ancient traditions with relentless floods and erosion. These vulnerable areas are the frontline witnesses of climate change, facing disappearing coastlines and more powerful and frequent storms. The ongoing fight against these forces highlights the urgent need for immediate and combined efforts to reduce these effects and adjust to the fast-changing world.
When it comes to climate change, art can be very influential in spreading the word. Artists can use different mediums to clearly explain the hard and often overwhelming reality of climate change in a way that appeals to a wider range of people. Art can bring out feelings, which can lead to positive change.
Art also has the power to question the dominant ideas that influence our views on climate change. Artists can challenge established norms by offering fresh viewpoints, prompting us to critically examine the underlying causes and effects of environmental harm. Art plays a crucial role in driving climate action; using compelling visual depictions and narratives, artists capture the severity of the climate crisis, inspiring individuals and communities to demand swift action.
Art further encourages communication and strengthens bonds between individuals. It promotes empathy and mutual understanding among diverse groups such as decision-makers, businesses, and the wider community. Moreover, art allows people and communities impacted by climate change to tell their stories and share their experiences and observations in a compelling way.
A Creative Response to Climate Change
Turning the Tide (TTT) is a pioneering Creative Europe project bringing together people from different disciplines to present the unique problems waterfront cities face and attempt to tackle the climate crisis in coastal cities around the world.
Through the 2024/2025 TTT program, artists can harness their creativity to address the critical environmental challenges of our time. This initiative goes beyond mere artistic expression; it empowers artists to become agents of change, spreading awareness and promoting environmental conservation through the transformative power of art.
Join the Artistic Movement
Do you want to be part of this major transformative initiative addressing the climate crisis in waterfront cities through art? Join the bold collaborative TTT project that aims to address the urgent threat of climate change. Aiming to involve local communities, give a voice to the marginalised, and raise awareness about climate-related issues in these coastal areas, TTT will give the opportunity to a number of socially conscious artists to visit four different cities and through cultural mapping, research and their interaction with the locals, explore how we can all contribute to discussions on environmental issues and what we can do to help, simultaneously leading to the creation of artworks that reflect the artists' discoveries and insights.
All artists, regardless of experience, are welcome to apply, particularly those passionate about ecology, nature, and community engagement.
The TTT project involves collaborators – Intercult (Sweden), Artit (Greece), Wiener Bildungsakademie (Austria), DEAR HUNTER (Netherlands) and the Urban Culture Institute (Poland) in collaboration with Fablevision Scotland and River//Cities network. Residency programs offer artists dedicated time for exploring the city's culture, conducting research, and creating artistic masterpieces. Artists are expected to produce tangible artworks that capture their insights and experiences gained throughout the residency. These works will be showcased in an online exhibition as the program's grand finale. Artists will reside in designated city spaces, providing an ideal setting for artistic exploration and connecting with the community.
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As we conclude our discussion on art's crucial impact in tackling climate change, it's vital to recognise that this fight involves both collective actions and deeply personal commitments. The Turning the Tide (TTT) Call for Art exemplifies this duality by connecting personal artistic expressions with collective efforts. If you're an artist (or know an artist) who would be perfect for this opportunity, find out more and apply via the official Turning the Tide website. Let's creatively address climate change and leave a lasting legacy of hope and restoration for future generations.