In our Let's Change Culture discussions, we explored how the term "community engagement" is often misused or misunderstood, particularly by local authorities and organisations. True community engagement involves meaningful dialogue, trust-building, and agency for participants, but this isn’t always what people experience.

Let’s have enriching engagement experiences rather than purely extractive ones.

in a recent creative engagement session with the "Let's Change Culture" group, facilitated in collaboration with Plymouth Culture, I led participants through a collage-making exercise. The idea behind this session was simple but impactful: to understand creative engagement better, through doing and self-reflection to remember what it’s like to experience it first hand (rather than be the facilitator which is what most creatives usually experience!).

What might a better world be like? How could we all get there together? Is art really an essential part of the journey? These are some of the questions we’ll explore in this ‘Let’s Change Culture’ blog.

Creative engagement refers to the process of involving people in activities that stimulate creativity, imagination, and participation. It can take many forms, from interactive art projects and collaborative performances to workshops, storytelling, and hands-on crafting. The goal of creative engagement is often to inspire new ways of thinking, foster community involvement, and encourage personal expression.

In contexts like climate change or social issues, creative engagement can also help people process complex emotions, consider alternative futures, and take action through a more inclusive and imaginative approach.

If our gut instincts are what drive a high proportion of what we do, then we can’t rely on logic to change our patterns of behaviour, it means we have to work on the subconscious, pre-conscious, embodied stuff. Participating in the arts could support this. I love the idea that by inviting ourselves to be creative in response to the climate challenge, we allow ourselves to take steps on the journey from where we are to where we might want to be.

Many artists who are deeply concerned about the climate crisis feel trapped by this concept. They worry that even creating art—something often seen as a life-enriching and essential activity—might contribute to the problem. As a result, some assume that the best thing they can do for the planet is to stop creating altogether, to 'do nothing.' However, this mindset misses the potential that art and creativity have in reshaping how we interact with the planet.

The world is changing, and so is the role of the arts in shaping the future. In the face of climate change, creative organisations have an opportunity—not just to reflect the state of the world through art, but to actively influence it through their operations and ethos. This is where a Climate Action Policy and Strategy comes in.

In this blog post, we’re introducing a practical, flexible Climate Action Policy and Strategy Template designed for creative organisations, whether you’re a small independent studio, a performing arts venue, or a national gallery. This tool will help you craft a clear and actionable plan to reduce your environmental impact and become a leader in sustainability within the arts community.

Those of us with limited resources can still develop and implement an environmental action plan by focusing on smaller, practical steps that create meaningful change without requiring substantial investment. Here are some suggestions for how we can approach sustainability with minimal resources:

Developing an environmental or climate vision for an arts organisation involves defining the long-term aspirations that reflect your commitment to sustainability, and how this will shape your operations, programming, and community engagement.

In this blog for the Let’s Change Culture Series, we will be exploring how arts organisations can develop an environmental or climate vision.

The question of whether humans can live sustainably on Earth has been a profound topic of debate among environmentalists, scientists, and thinkers. As someone with a background in renewable energy and a passion for cultural analysis, I’ve pondered this question from various angles. The challenge is multifaceted, involving not just technological advancements but also a fundamental shift in how we view our relationship with the planet and each other.

We’ve recently been commissioned to create a new solar panel artwork for the launch of The West Midlands Combined Authority’s new Smart Energy Systems Strategy. As with any project, we started with research—exploring the energy heritage of the area, the people driving change, and the unique qualities that make this region a hub of innovation for a better world.

In our digging, I was thrilled to discover the fascinating history of The Lunar Society in the West Midlands. A bit more about it here…

Since the beginning of civilization, poets and creatives have helped us navigate the complexities of the human condition. They’ve given us language, empathy, and insight—tools we desperately need as we face environmental and societal challenges that threaten to overwhelm us.

This international design competition, supports new and novel approaches for communicating the impacts of climate change and the benefits of mitigation, adaptation and resilience. 

The Art and Energy Collective won a ‘Highly Commended’ Award for our How to Bury the Giant programme.

Could your project fit their challenge guidelines?

We now address one of the most significant challenges facing creatives today: misinformation and climate denial. These obstacles can impede efforts to convey accurate information about the science and impacts of climate change.

This guide offers strategies for addressing scepticism and misinformation, emphasising the importance of careful fact-checking and clear communication.

We explore the critical question: What could we learn to effectively address climate change?

This instalment delves into the skills, knowledge, and changes necessary to build a sustainable future. By choosing an area of interest, enhancing our abilities, and integrating nature into our decision-making, we can make meaningful strides towards environmental sustainability.

We turn our attention to the very real challenges faced by artists today. Artists are often underpaid and struggle to make ends meet, making it difficult to allocate resources for additional learning and engagement with the climate crisis.

So, how can artists resource themselves to tackle these issues? And what are the implications if they decide it's not their problem?

In this instalment, we delve into the role of creatives in addressing the enormous systemic issues at the heart of the climate crisis.

From advocating for justice and economic reform to promoting regeneration, creatives have a unique ability to inspire, inform, and mobilize. Here’s how we can use our platforms and practices to drive transformative change.

In this instalment, we address the challenge of crisis fatigue—a common feeling of exhaustion and overwhelm that can arise when constantly confronting complex issues like climate change.

Understanding and managing crisis fatigue is essential for sustaining motivation and effectiveness in your creative practice. It’s worth bearing in mind that your audiences may well be experiencing crisis fatigue. Here’s how you can stay engaged and energised. Reflecting on these tips, can help us consider what our audiences may need too.

In this instalment, we focus on the challenges and opportunities that come with engaging complex issues, particularly climate change, through creative practices. Effective communication of complex issues requires a commitment to ongoing education, research, and collaboration. Here’s how creatives can rise to the occasion.