Figure 9: The Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries 23

23  (TED2018, A Healthy Economy Should Be Designed to Thrive, Not Grow, 2018, https://www.ted.com/talks/kate_raworth_a_healthy_economy_should_be_designed_to_thrive_not_grow?language=en)

We believe the arts can be a vanguard to public opinion and other sectors, it can be an actor of change. We feel the urgency of climate change gives the arts a certain responsibility to use its influence for sustainability purposes. Climate change issues addressed through the arts can be an emotional plea, parallel to the rational plea by science, changing the behaviours of society. There could even be financial incentives linked to this.

What are the opportunities and challenges in your organisation, your funding systems, with partners and with audiences of a climate-oriented practice? Which tools or mechanisms could we develop that aim for fairness and what are the best cases we can refer to?

The recent focus on climate change by Western organisations has a direct effect on the funding and practices of international cultural practitioners, who might have other priorities like emancipation or inequality.

Climate change issues need to be understood and addressed through open conversations about the perspectives, priorities and scenarios by all regions involved. No one is in the lead or is excused from changing one’s paradigms.

The climate crisis is inextricably linked to issues of inequality and social justice.

• Use the discursive powers of the arts to rethink the dominant norms or frames of reference.

• Evoke a mindset change and create awareness through action.

• Make reciprocity a core value.

• Find models of cooperation that are beneficial for the local community.

• Educate yourself.

• Think about the potential of different ideas of community coming from rural places, urban cities and in-between spaces.

• Keep working inclusively, with a more diverse range of people, to get a holistic view.

• Think in terms of cooperation and collaboration instead of competition.

• Operate in an intersectional manner and get out of the art-bubble.

• Exchange with the scientific field both in form and the content.

• Be agents of change by reflecting on the system and flagging issues/voicing concerns.

• Regulate your own practice and processes.

• Inspire others to work in the same way. 24

24  DutchCulture, ‘An Exploration of Possibilities and Challenges of Fair International Cultural Cooperation’ (DutchCulture - Centre for international cooperation, 10 May 2021), https://dutchculture.nl/sites/default/files/2021-05/DutchCulture-Publicatie%20Fair-2021-DEF.pdf 

When events are held in natural areas, they can have an explicit and long-term environmental impact. Thousands of people, loud noise, pollution, and the transport of heavy materials tend to take their toll on the used land, the surrounding waterways, and the local ecosystem, but the impact doesn’t have to be all negative. By proceeding with land restoration after the clean-up, you can leave the land in a better state than you found it and leave a positive footprint, bringing back biodiversity and wildlife.

• Execute a flora and fauna assessment.

• Make a noise and lightning plan, and take into account the habitat of bats, birds and animals.

• Protect vulnerable vegetation and trees.

• Prevent leakage of liquids such as fuels and chemicals.

• Install drainage systems to protect soil.

• Protect biodiversity.