Let’s Change Culture: Working with complex issues

Let's Change CultureCreative climate conversation

26 Jul

A Creative Approach to Climate Communication

Welcome back to our "Let's Change Culture" series. In this instalment, we focus on the challenges and opportunities that come with engaging complex issues, particularly climate change, through creative practices.

A group of over 60 creatives across the city contributed to the development of this series through a consultation process with The Art and Energy Collective supported by Plymouth Culture.

This collection is intended to be added to - So please feel free to add links or comments below to support each other to grow and develop.

Effective communication of complex issues requires a commitment to ongoing education, research, and collaboration. Here’s how creatives can rise to the occasion.

Commit to Ongoing Education and Research

Deepening Your Understanding

To communicate complex issues like climate change effectively, it’s essential to invest time in understanding the science, impacts, and solutions. By gaining a comprehensive knowledge of these topics, creatives can produce more accurate and compelling content.

Look at what your peers are doing

There is a vibrant community of practitioners and organisations in Plymouth (and everywhere) striving to take steps towards a better world. Disconnection and separation can make us think we’re alone, but you can take a glance online to find a range of projects that you could learn from. Check out Climate Connections Plymouth as a first port of call, and definitely add your profile there if you are working in the city.

Resources for Continuous Learning

Online Courses: Platforms like Coursera, edX, and FutureLearn offer courses on climate science, sustainability, and environmental policy.
Webinars and Workshops: Attend events hosted by organizations like Julie’s Bicycle, Creative Carbon Scotland, and local universities.
Research Papers and Articles: Regularly read journals such as "Nature Climate Change" and reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Creative Research Processes

Utilize creative methods to deepen your understanding and contribute to the field:

Artistic Experimentation: Explore how different mediums can convey scientific data and complex narratives.
Collaborative Projects: Partner with scientists, activists, and other creatives to produce interdisciplinary work that merges art and research.

Adapting and Learning Through Doing

Continuous Improvement

Stay informed about emerging research and best practices in climate communication. Adapt your approaches based on new information and feedback from your audience.

Experimenting with Storytelling Techniques

Experimentation is key to finding innovative ways to communicate climate issues:

New Formats: Try different formats like podcasts, VR experiences, interactive websites, and installations.
Audience Engagement: Use social media and other digital platforms to engage with your audience and gather feedback.
Narrative Techniques: Incorporate personal stories, data visualizations, and immersive experiences to make complex information relatable and engaging.

Seeking Feedback

Regularly seek feedback from your audience to understand what resonates and what needs improvement. This iterative process helps refine your message and approach.

Don’t Wait to Be an Expert

Start Where You Are

Don’t wait until you feel like an expert to start addressing climate issues through your art. Begin with what you know, and let your work evolve as your knowledge grows.

Learning by Doing

Engage with the subject matter actively and learn through practice:

Start Small: Begin with small projects that allow you to explore climate themes without feeling overwhelmed.
Document Your Journey: Share your learning process with your audience to build transparency and trust.

Build Networks and Collaborate

Making New Connections

Forming connections with other creatives, scientists, and activists can enrich your understanding and broaden your impact. Consider joining or forming networks, book clubs, and discussion groups focused on climate issues.

Collaborative Opportunities

Book Clubs and Discussion Groups: Join or start a book club that focuses on climate-related literature. This can be a great way to learn and discuss ideas with others.
Networks and Communities: Engage with networks such as Culture Declares Emergency, Transition Network, and local environmental groups.
Interdisciplinary Projects: Collaborate on projects that bring together diverse perspectives and expertise.

Communicating complex issues like climate change through art requires a commitment to ongoing education, experimentation, and collaboration. By deepening your understanding, continuously adapting, starting where you are, and building networks, you can create impactful and engaging work that contributes to the global conversation on climate action.

Some local projects

Of course there is no complete directory or map of everything that you could know about creative practice in this field. But you can take a look at some interesting local projects:

FotoNow

FotoNow is a community interest company (CIC) in Plymouth that focuses on visual storytelling and media production. They provide photography, filmmaking, and digital media services while also offering educational workshops and community projects to engage and empower local people through creative media.

JarSquad

JarSquad is a Plymouth-based community initiative that focuses on reducing food waste and promoting sustainable living. They organize community events where people can bring their surplus produce, learn how to preserve it through canning and jarring, and share skills and knowledge about food preservation.

Fi Evans - Sockists

Fi Evans is a creative practitioner known for her project "Sockists," which engages communities through the art of sock knitting. The initiative fosters creativity, connection, and well-being by encouraging people to knit and share socks, often leading to community exhibitions and collaborative installations.

Judy Harrington

Judy Harrington is an artist and community activist based in Plymouth. She works on various community art projects that aim to engage and uplift local residents through creative expression and participation.

Soapbox Theatre

Soapbox Theatre is a community theatre in Plymouth that creates and performs plays for children and families. They emphasize storytelling, interactive performances, and workshops that inspire young audiences and promote a love for the arts.

POP Collective

POP Collective (Plymouth Octopus Project) is a network of voluntary and community sector organizations in Plymouth. It aims to support and strengthen community groups by providing resources, funding, and collaboration opportunities to enhance their impact and sustainability.

Pollenize

Pollenize is a social enterprise in Plymouth focused on enhancing urban biodiversity through community beekeeping and pollinator-friendly projects. They engage residents in environmental education and create habitats that support bees and other pollinators, contributing to local biodiversity and sustainability.

Plymouth Play Scrapstore

Plymouth Play Scrapstore is a charity that provides affordable recycled materials for creative play and education. They collect surplus and waste materials from businesses and redistribute them to schools, community groups, and individuals, promoting sustainable play and creativity.

Clean Our Patch

Clean Our Patch is a community-led initiative in Plymouth dedicated to litter picking and environmental clean-ups. Volunteers organize regular events to clean up local areas, raise awareness about littering, and foster community pride and environmental stewardship.

Seadream Education

Seadream Education is an educational organisation in South Devon that offers marine and environmental education programs. They provide workshops, field trips, and hands-on learning experiences to schools and community groups, aiming to inspire a love for the ocean and promote marine conservation.

Precious Plastic Plymouth

Precious Plastic Plymouth is part of the global Precious Plastic movement, which focuses on recycling and repurposing plastic waste. The project involves creating DIY machines to shred, melt, and mold plastic into new products, engaging the community in practical recycling efforts and promoting environmental sustainability.

Kate Crawfurd

Kate Crawfurd is a Plymouth-based artist and community facilitator. She works on various creative projects that engage local residents, often focusing on environmental themes and using art to foster community connections and address social issues.

Grow Plymouth

Grow Plymouth is made up of 11 studios which are creative home to painters, audio artists, printmakers, installation and socially engaged artists. The ground floor is a space to experiment with the aim to create a space which explores its surroundings and heritage whilst looking to the future in terms of sustainability, inclusion, food and drink, grassroots arts, music and culture.

Nudge Community Builders

Nudge Community Builders is a social enterprise that revitalizes empty or underused buildings in Plymouth for community benefit. They aim to create vibrant, inclusive spaces that support local businesses, social activities, and community projects, fostering economic and social regeneration.

RIO (Real Ideas Organisation)

RIO is a social enterprise based in Plymouth that supports young people and communities through creative and entrepreneurial projects. They provide mentoring, training, and opportunities for individuals to develop skills and pursue social enterprises, promoting innovation and social impact.

Cliik Community Ltd

Cliik Community Limited is a charitable community benefit society based in North Stonehouse, a deprived, though architecturally rich, part of Plymouth. Its aim is to regenerate the area, through a mix of community-led interventions, combining environmental, housing employment and quality of life initiatives. Cliik is a business, whose profits will be used to benefit the North Stonehouse community.

Flax Project CIC

Flax Project CIC is a community interest company focused on sustainable textile production and education. They work with local communities to revive traditional flax growing and processing techniques, promoting sustainable practices and local textile heritage.

Community in Print

Community in print provides creative workshops to encourage people to engage in the climate crisis without fear.

Focusing on joy, creative practices allow people to learn new skills, build new narratives, and imagine new futures, with their own actions and agency at the centre.

These projects and organizations collectively contribute to the vibrant community life in Plymouth, promoting sustainability, creativity, and social engagement.