Across the world, humanity is experiencing the devastating effects of climate change. Together, as citizens of the world, we need to take urgent action to address the climate and nature emergencies. 

Arts Council of Wales is committed to championing the important role of the arts in transforming our society and economy to tackle the climate and nature emergencies. And we recognise that climate change is about more than the environmental repercussions – it is about social justice and inequality. We strongly believe in putting equality and justice at the heart of our contribution, and we are confident that this approach also strongly reflects the immense commitment of the arts sector in Wales.

To that end, we have developed our Plan for Climate Justice and the Arts, through a collaborative process as part of our Creative Nature Programme with Natural Resources Wales. The plan sets out how we have worked with people from across Wales to identify a vision, goals and shared beliefs related to how the arts can engage with climate justice, and we share a detailed series of positive actions that will see us making a tangible difference together.

 

Strategy: The collective vision, goals, and shared beliefs

Vision: The discussion between the 93 people in the co-design group led to the vision that: “The arts play a key role in inspiring the transformation we need to create a fairer world where people and nature can thrive.” The group imagined this vision in the form of a tree, with leaves that breathe, branches that hold, and roots that nurture.
Goals: By imagining the vision in this way, the co-design group created and visualised two goals that everyone involved in the arts in Wales can work towards: 1. An arts sector which supports creativity that inspires people to take action for climate justice. 2. An environmentally sustainable, decarbonised and globally responsible arts sector grounded in social justice.
Our Shared Beliefs: Our voice travels far; This work is difficult; We need time, space and resources to do our best work; We are stronger together; Every voice is important; Everyone who wants to access the work should be able to do so; Wales is a special place

Creative responses to the Climate Justice Plan

Supporting creativity that inspires people to take action for climate justice is at the heart of the plan. We have invited three artists: Manon Awst, Cheryl Beer and Durre Shahwar who took part in the co-design process, and who are also some of our Future Wales Fellows, to respond creatively to some of the themes that the plan addresses.

Scroll through the creative responses below:

Download the Plan for Climate Justice and the Arts