Announcing the first cohort of Creative Climate Leadership participants for 2017 25 Creative Climate Leaders have been selected from 109 applications.
Creative Climate Leadership (CCL), a new pan-European programme for artists and cultural professionals exploring the cultural dimensions of climate change, has announced today the names of the 25 participants. 13 of this year’s participants come from across the UK and Ireland. They are joined by 12 international participants: From China to Zimbabwe. The first CCL international training course will take place in Wales, UK, between 27th – 31st March 2017, facilitated by Julie’s Bicycle, a London-based charity supporting the creative community to power action on climate change, and Slovenian-based sustainable development and training NGO, PiNA.
The participants are working in areas as varied as cultural policy, theatre, festivals, forestry, fashion, dance, museums and visual arts. With more than 109 candidates applying, competition was fierce.
Places have been awarded to: Vicki Ooi, The Absolutely Fabulous Theatre Connection, China Ian Rimington, Arts Council England Kerry O’Sullivan, Blue Room Theatre, Australia Michael Soro, Body and Soul Festival, Ireland Jessica Sim, Circuit, Turkey Ariana Jordao, Centre for Alternative Technology, Wales Iris Hung, Bamboo Curtain Studio, Taiwan Victoria Chapman, Festival Republic, England Hayley Skipper, Forestry Commission, England Christine Vroom, Het Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam Shiya Lu, Ibsen International, China Lyke Poortvliet, Independent, Amsterdam Harpreet Kaur, Independent, England Anna-Kaisa Koski, Independent, Finland Charlotte Le Sourd, Independent, France Sigrid Pawelke, Independent, France Gavin Porter, Independent, Wales Henry McGhie, Manchester Museum, England Philip Kusasa , Ndau Festival of the Arts, Zimbabwe Annie Crabtree, NVA, Scotland Karishma Rafferty, Somerset House, England Mish Weaver, StumbleDance Circus, England Janet Vaughan, Talking Birds, England Rachid Ennassiri, Tazuri Art and Culture Association, Morocco Carla Danielle Knight, Vivienne Westwood, England
We were staggered and overwhelmed by the quality of applications for the first year of Creative Climate Leadership. The need for skilled, visionary, cultural leaders with an eye on climate change is as great as ever. Fortunately the range and calibre of people from all aspects of the cultural scene who wish to apply creativity to tackle the most urgent challenges we face is strong and intent on taking action.
Hannah Van Den Bergh, Project Manager at Julie’s Bicycle
Situated at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth, Wales, the course will:
● Explore the role of culture and creativity in responding to climate change and environmental challenges
● Bring together a range of expert guest speakers to share case studies, research, approaches and practical solutions for environmental sustainability in the cultural sector;
● Enable each participant to develop their leadership and ideas
● Prepare participants to apply their learning and new skills when they return home, and support ongoing learning and exchange through an alumni network.
The United Nations-led Paris Agreement on climate change came into force on 4th November 2016, committing world leaders to keeping global warming below 2°C. There is now a need for creative and collaborative leadership to enable its success. CCL recognises the unique role of culture to influence new ways of being, doing and thinking, and supports creative professionals to apply these abilities to the climate challenge through a programme of events, training programmes and policy labs.
CCL brings together eight European partners that represent a broad geographical region, a variety of art form specialisms, and various approaches to encouraging environmental action across the European creative sector. The partnership is led by Julie’s Bicycle and supported by On The Move, PiNA, EXIT Foundation, KRUG, Ars Baltica, COAL and mitos21.
A second training course will take place in Slovenia later in the year.
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