Culture to lead on boosting public response to climate crisis

A Scotland-wide collaboration between climate change or environmental organisations and arts, heritage or cultural organisations will be working to stimulate long-term public engagement in the lead-up to and following COP26, the UN climate change conference.

Postponed from 2020, the Glasgow conference is now due to take place in November this year and Creative Carbon Scotland will be funding participating organisations to develop six Climate Beacons projects that will focus on different parts of Scotland starting in April 2021 and running until July 2022.

This project has been developed following research into previous arts and culture engagements with COPs and aims to avoid duplication of effort and fill important gaps.

The research demonstrated a need for more effective collaboration between the culture and climate sectors, working closely together for substantial periods to learn from each other and co-produce work. It also recognised the need for a wider spread of engagement work, reaching audiences beyond Glasgow and over a longer period of time than just around the conference itself. The research also emphasised legacy and the importance of activity that leads to deep-rooted, longer term connections, changes to practice, and community interest.

Online Expressions of Interest are invited until 9am on 1 March.