Climate change, sustainability and environment are among the most pressing global issues of concern. They are on the top of the agenda in global international relations, and are becoming the forefront topics of dialogue in Asia-Europe relations. Yet, the debate so far has been dominated by politicians and scientists.
The awareness of climate change and what it really means for an ordinary person is still rather vague. For most of us Climate change is an abstract concept. How do we translate factual information on climate change into actual (emotional) experiences? How can arts & culture offer new ways to understand this new reality?
On the one hand art can be an effective means of creating awareness among people about climate change and the environment. Art and culture can be identified as a missing ‘pillar’ in the concept of sustainability. On the other hand, climate change and sustainability issues are a new topic to be dealt with from an artistic point of view and a source of thought and inspiration for artists. Aware of this, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) initiated the Asia-Europe Dialogue on Arts, Culture & Climate Change.
The project is under ASEF’s newly-initiated programme called Connect2Culture, which focuses on the connections between arts & culture and important global issues. The dialogue took place in Beijing, China from 9-13 October 2008.
The Dialogue on Art, Culture & Climate Change is an investigation into the role of culture and the arts in the cross-cultural dialogue on climate change between and in Asia and Europe. The Dialogue aims to raise the awareness on climate change and sustainability in cultural and arts communities in Asia and Europe and at investigating different perspectives on this subject. It also seeks to strengthen the role and the voice of culture and arts in the dialogue on and actions related to climate change. Furthermore, it aims to explore creative cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural connections between artists, scientists, and other climate change thinkers leading to joint approaches and collaborations for climate change actions.
The project gathered 45 Asian and European artists, designers, architects, cultural practitioners, environmentalists and scientists to participate during the three-day workshop, and is organised in partnership with the China Central Academy of Fine Arts, the Danish Cultural Institute, Cultura21, Research Center for Sustainable Development of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and National Climate Change Center.
The project started in August 2008 with smaller preparatory projects leading to the first main event held in Beijing between 10-13 October.
The debates on October 10th (public forum in CAFA) discussed from an Asian and European perspective our understanding about climate and environment and how we relate to it. The different aspects of climate change were discussed with scientists, and among the cultural dimensions of climate change. Artists presented how they respond to this issue (and how they have conceptualised work around the phenomenon of climate change). The need for change and how artists and scientists look for change and creative sustainable solutions across disciplines and sectors will be discussed from the perspective of ‘food, shelter, mobility and clothing’.
Intensive interactive workshops were held on the 11th and 12th of October, which looked deeper into the topics and discuss potential connections and strands to engage in the topic and effectuate change. The group also looked into suggestions how artists, scientists and climate change thinkers in Asia and Europe can play a further role in the dialogue and concrete projects on this topic and how ideas can be generated towards an Asia-Europe project in Copenhagen in 2009. The programme was facilitated by experienced facilitators Maggie Buxton (UK/NZ) and Angela Liong (Singapore). On the 13th October an optional activity was planned visiting a local environmental initiative in Beijing.
A second project phase will follow which will lead to an event held in Copenhagen in December 2009 alongside the Climate Change Summit.