Art, Activism and Sustainability

About

There is an increasing interest in both art that is itself about the environment and art that is self-consciously sustainable. Meanwhile, activists and artists mobilise artistic resources (e.g. visual images, performative acts, stylised objects and materials) in radically new ways to imagine more sustainable futures.

This panel brings together activists, artists, and academics to discuss art’s political potential in interventions and projects that seek to address the climate emergency. The panellists will consider the following questions: how can public art engage people with the most pressing environmental issues of our time? What role might the arts play in catalysing the social and political changes that are needed to avert planetary breakdown? How might artists, activists, universities and civil society organisations learn from each other to pursue more sustainable futures?

This free, public panel discussion will be held at stage@leeds, a carbon-neutral theatre space on University of Leeds campus (and streamed virtually). Spaces are limited so booking is essential.

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served at 3pm for those joining us in person. For those joining us virtually, the live stream will begin at 3.15pm. A link will be emailed the day before the event.

The panel is hosted by the Bauman Institute – Arts and Leeds University Library Galleries.