Led by Artsadmin and Julie’s Bicycle, Season for Change 2020 will be a major cultural festival and campaign celebrating the environment and inspiring urgent action on the future of our planet, in the lead up to the UN’s COP26 international climate negotiations in Glasgow, November 2020.
Season for Change 2020 aims to mobilise artists and cultural organisations to put climate action at the heart of their programming through:
- A programme of events and resources that will empower artists and cultural organisations to take action and inspire their audiences and communities.
- 15 flagship participatory commissions with 10 partners nationwide that engage diverse audiences with the climate crisis.
- A national campaign of events about climate change and the environment involving over 250 artists and arts organisations nationwide.
From June-November 2020, organisations and artists across the UK are invited to respond to the climate crisis through practical actions and participatory activities that spark public conversation about the future of our planet, and showcase solutions. Season for Change 2020 culminates on 9-19 November 2020 when the UK welcomes delegates from over 170 countries to Glasgow for COP26, the UN’s most critical climate negotiations to date. This will be an unmissable opportunity to showcase the creativity and leadership of the cultural sector on the most important issue of our time.
“This is the year for climate action. The UK, as host to the international climate negotiations, has an exceptional opportunity to make a big difference. Season for Change is for people from all over the country to connect to the climate crisis and make our voices heard at COP26. Come with us.”
Alison Tickell, Founder and CEO, Julie’s Bicycle
We are one of a number of partner organisations supporting the delivery of Season for Change, with our role including research into the impact of some of the commissioned projects. Our aim is to understand the depth to which they initiate climate action and in which ways arts-led projects can help deliver social transformations.
Other confirmed programme partners to date include Apples and Snakes, Cambridge Junction, Contact Theatre, East Street Arts, Happy Museum, Manchester Museum, Metal Liverpool, Sage Gateshead, Warwick Arts Centre, and Watershed.
“There is quite simply no issue more serious and urgent than the future of our planet. Season for Change is about story and action – amplifying the multiplicity of voices of artists, audiences and communities across the UK, and equipping them with the tools to act collectively and as individuals.”
Deborah Chadbourn, Executive Director, and Róise Goan, Artistic Director, Artsadmin
Are you an artist or organisation interested in taking part in Season for Change 2020?
Here’s how to get involved…
Creative responses can take place anywhere – in arts venues, on streets, in schools, at festivals, on beaches, in libraries or museums and across broadcast, film, fashion and music. We invite you to use culture to speak out, champion change, showcase sustainable practice and inspire action by doing things such as:
- Programme an event
- Commission new work
- Organise a debate
- Curate an exhibition
- Provide space for spontaneous performances
- Host an open call
- Make art, theatre, music, film etc.
- Turn your work inside out and show what you’re doing behind the scenes
- Support your community to take action on local environmental issues creatively
- Put climate change centre stage
Arts organisations, artists and others from the UK’s creative community are encouraged to go to the Season for Change website to:
- Sign up to the mailing list receive event invitations, resources, updates and programme announcements.
- Tell Season of Change about any events or creative responses about environment/climate change you are planning for June-November 2020.
- Share touring work on this theme that they can promote to the Season of Change networks.
- Share Season for Change with your networks using the hashtag #SeasonforChange2020 | www.seasonforchange.org.uk