Creative Conversations
Creative Conversations
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Cross-Community and Intergenerational Dialogues on Evolving Coastlines
Cross-Community and Intergenerational Dialogues on Evolving Coastlines
Coastal change due to rising sea levels and erosion is a pressing challenge for many communities in England, with projections indicating sea level rise between 0.27 and 1.12 metres by the end of the century. As more communities face increasing coastal risk, understanding their perspectives on resilience and adaptation becomes crucial.
Coastal change due to rising sea levels and erosion is a pressing challenge for many communities in England, with projections indicating sea level rise between 0.27 and 1.12 metres by the end of the century. As more communities face increasing coastal risk, understanding their perspectives on resilience and adaptation becomes crucial.
The Creative Conversations project aimed to explore how communities, governing bodies and local authorities can work together to shape a sustainable future. Given the often-strained relationships between these groups, the project focuses on fostering collaborative dialogues that incorporate local voices, worries and aspirations.
The Creative Conversations project aimed to explore how communities, governing bodies and local authorities can work together to shape a sustainable future. Given the often-strained relationships between these groups, the project focuses on fostering collaborative dialogues that incorporate local voices, worries and aspirations.
Research team and partners
Research team and partners
Co-Lead Researchers: Katie Parsons & Alison Lloyd Williams
Co-Lead Researchers: Katie Parsons & Alison Lloyd Williams
Partners: Environment Agency, the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme teams from East Riding of Yorkshire Council and North Norfolk Council.
Partners: Environment Agency, the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme teams from East Riding of Yorkshire Council and North Norfolk Council.
Participants: Children from Skipsea Primary School and residents of the Skipsea community.
Participants: Children from Skipsea Primary School and residents of the Skipsea community.
Methodology
Methodology
This project explored two complimentary components:
This project explored two complimentary components:
- Testing an Intergenerational Engagement Method:
- Evaluating whether this approach helps Environment Agency and Local Authority colleagues gain a better understanding of community perspectives on adaptation and resilience.
- Investigating whether Environment Agency and Local Authority staff can independently apply these engagement methods without the involvement of external facilitators or researchers.
- Contributing directly to the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy , which seeks to 'develop the engagement skills and capabilities (risk management authorities) need to better support communities to manage and adapt to future flooding and coastal change'.
- Engaging Intergenerational Voices:
- Gathering stories and insights from both younger and older generations to understand their sense of place within Skipsea and the relationship with the evolving coastline.
- Using these narratives to stimulate cross-generational discussions about past, present and future coastal changes.
Creative Methods:
Creative Methods:
Over three months the project conducted:
Over three months the project conducted:
Workshops with older generations (60+): Held through a local craft group, where participants expressed their thoughts through craftivism - creating artifacts representing meaningful aspects of Skipsea. These pieces were complied into a community collage, now displayed at the village hall.
Workshops with older generations (60+): Held through a local craft group, where participants expressed their thoughts through craftivism - creating artifacts representing meaningful aspects of Skipsea. These pieces were complied into a community collage, now displayed at the village hall.
Workshops with children (Years 4, 5 and 6) at Skipsea Primary:
Workshops with children (Years 4, 5 and 6) at Skipsea Primary:
Activities included craft, drama, storytelling, reminiscence and reflection. Using Creative Participatory Action Research methods provided a safe space for children to imagine possible coastal futures.
Activities included craft, drama, storytelling, reminiscence and reflection. Using Creative Participatory Action Research methods provided a safe space for children to imagine possible coastal futures.
End of Project Event:
End of Project Event:
Stakeholders from the Environment Agency and Local Authority visited Skipsea to hear presentations from the children and local craft group, sharing their visions for the future of their coastal community.
Stakeholders from the Environment Agency and Local Authority visited Skipsea to hear presentations from the children and local craft group, sharing their visions for the future of their coastal community.
Impact & Outputs
Impact & Outputs
- Community Legacy: Children and the school received a book documenting the project, which is also available as a free e-book for wider access.
- Strengthening Cross-Generational Conversations: Facilitated a deeper understanding of coastal change and adaptation across different age groups.
- Recognition in National Discourse: Contributed to the ongoing conversation on coastal resilience and adaptation strategies.
Publications & Media Coverage:
Publications & Media Coverage:
Parsons, K. J. and Lloyd Williams, A. (forthcoming) More than coastal change: Intergenerational craftivism, collaborative conversations and climate imaginaries.
Parsons, K. J. and Lloyd Williams, A. (forthcoming) More than coastal change: Intergenerational craftivism, collaborative conversations and climate imaginaries.
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