Arts Zone

Arts

Barbara Keal

How can the arts engage people in issues around climate justice?

Barbara is a visual artist who instigated the creation of the “Coat of Hopes”. This is a patchwork garment made of embroidered pieces of blanket sewn by a diverse range of people along a walk from the south coast of England to Glasgow for the COP26 Climate Summit last November. In this session she reflected upon this project and how the arts can engage people in the issue of climate justice in unique and powerful ways.

Barbara referred to a project called Coat of Hopes - see https://www.coatofhopes.uk/Link opens in a new window.

https://warwick.padlet.org/aball116/zz8x80zvtmw5lr15Link opens in a new window

For the first Green Space Day, a series of resources were collected together around this theme which you are welcome to explore and use in your teaching. Please note that they were accurate and live in April 2022, but some may have been replaced or removed, as we have no control over external resources. The resources are labelled with the following colours and shapes to denote their suitability for particular age phases:

Early Years: Primary: Secondary:

Resource title, description and link	Suitable for
The power of art in helping us to see climate change - podcast (34 mins) Art has a huge role to play in helping us connect emotionally and imaginally with the enormity of climate change. Marine artist Sonia Shomalzadeh talks to Caroline Hickman about the power and vision of her art, including life size sand drawings of whales and charcoal sharks for fashion shows. https://www.climatepsychologyalliance.org/podcasts/371-4-the-power-of-art-in-helping-us-to-see-climate-changeLink opens in a new window Podcast transcriptLink opens in a new window http://zoomorphic.net/2019/02/sonia-shomalzadeh-artist/Link opens in a new window https://www.climatepsychologyalliance.org/aboutLink opens in a new window
The Lost Words - book, website CD and live shows This book has had a transformative effect on all who have come in contact with it. Described as a 'cultural phenomenon' in the Guardian, it has become a huge bestseller, has taken root in thousands of schools across Britain, been widely acclaimed as an instant classic, won numerous prizes, and inspired many creative thinkers, young and old. https://www.thelostwords.org/Link opens in a new window
The Lost Words Explorer’s Guide - PDF - examples of practice This free guide by Eva John accompanies The Lost Words. It's for anyone with an interest in nature, words and images who wants to explore further some of the ideas and creatures conjured up by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris in their enchanting 'spell book'. It's especially useful for teachers and educators. The Lost Words Explorer's GuideLink opens in a new window	(KS2) (KS3)
The Lost Words for Schools - Padlet This is a moderated online board showcasing children's work, teaching ideas, and resources inspired by The Lost Words. https://padlet.com/LostWordsforSchools/lwfsLink opens in a new window
Murals and art as protest during COP26 in Glasgow Picture - a solar powered installation in Glasgow A gallery of some of the art that appeared during COP26, designed to highlight the urgent need for change. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2021/nov/14/murals-street-and-protest-art-at-cop26-in-picturesLink opens in a new window
Creative Carbon Scotland - connecting arts and sustainability - website https://www.creativecarbonscotland.com/resource/further-resources-on-arts-and-sustainability/Link opens in a new window
Coat of Hopes - website Artist Barbara Keal who, with many others, created a coat for World leader to wear at the UN Climate Summit, COP 26. https://www.coatofhopes.uk/Link opens in a new window
UNESCO - culture at the heart of the UN Sustainable Development Goals - website https://en.unesco.org/courier/april-june-2017/culture-heart-sdgsLink opens in a new window
Artists and Climate Change - exploring climate justice through the arts - websit https://artistsandclimatechange.com/about/Link opens in a new window
Season for change - A UK wide cultural programme inspiring urgent and inclusive action on climate change 2020-21 - website https://www.seasonforchange.org.uk/about/Link opens in a new window
Ergon Theatre creates performance-based work about futures and the climate crisis https://www.ergontheatre.co.uk/Link opens in a new window
Art UK - Art in the time of climate crisis - article - website https://artuk.org/discover/stories/cop26-art-in-the-time-of-climate-crisisLink opens in a new window
PoliNations A major cultural event celebrating diversity and migration through the UK's people and plants as part of Unboxed: creativity in the UK. https://polinations.com/about/Link opens in a new window
Change the World Together A heart-warming and entertaining musical captures the spirit of the times, being about a young person determined to make a difference in the face of climate change. https://www.starshine.co.uk/change-the-world-togetherLink opens in a new window
Teachwire - protest Art activity resource inspired by Bob and Roberta Smith https://www.teachwire.net/teaching-resources/ks2-art-pshe-lesson-plan-create-protest-art-in-the-style-of-a-bob-and-roberta-smith-posterLink opens in a new window
Rise Art - article on artists confronting climate change https://www.riseart.com/article/2485/9-artists-confronting-climate-changeLink opens in a new window
BBC 2 Inside Culture – Can Art Save the Planet? – 18 March 2022 https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0015gyg/inside-culture-series-5-4-can-art-save-the-planetLink opens in a new window

Resource title, description and link

Suitable for

The power of art in helping us to see climate change - podcast (34 mins)

Art has a huge role to play in helping us connect emotionally and imaginally with the enormity of climate change. Marine artist Sonia Shomalzadeh talks to Caroline Hickman about the power and vision of her art, including life size sand drawings of whales and charcoal sharks for fashion shows.

The Lost Words - book, website CD and live shows

This book has had a transformative effect on all who have come in contact with it. Described as a 'cultural phenomenon' in the Guardian, it has become a huge bestseller, has taken root in thousands of schools across Britain, been widely acclaimed as an instant classic, won numerous prizes, and inspired many creative thinkers, young and old.

https://www.thelostwords.org/Link opens in a new window

The Lost Words Explorer’s Guide - PDF - examples of practice

This free guide by Eva John accompanies The Lost Words. It's for anyone with an interest in nature, words and images who wants to explore further some of the ideas and creatures conjured up by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris in their enchanting 'spell book'. It's especially useful for teachers and educators.

The Lost Words Explorer's GuideLink opens in a new window

(KS2)

(KS3)

The Lost Words for Schools - Padlet

This is a moderated online board showcasing children's work, teaching ideas, and resources inspired by The Lost Words.

https://padlet.com/LostWordsforSchools/lwfsLink opens in a new window

Murals and art as protest during COP26 in Glasgow

Picture - a solar powered installation in Glasgow

Image of lights in the dark saying end the oil age salvage paradise now we must live in the grace of the sun

A gallery of some of the art that appeared during COP26, designed to highlight the urgent need for change.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2021/nov/14/murals-street-and-protest-art-at-cop26-in-picturesLink opens in a new window

Creative Carbon Scotland - connecting arts and sustainability - website

https://www.creativecarbonscotland.com/resource/further-resources-on-arts-and-sustainability/Link opens in a new window

Coat of Hopes - website

Artist Barbara Keal who, with many others, created a coat for World leader to wear at the UN Climate Summit, COP 26.

https://www.coatofhopes.uk/Link opens in a new window

UNESCO - culture at the heart of the UN Sustainable Development Goals - website

https://en.unesco.org/courier/april-june-2017/culture-heart-sdgsLink opens in a new window

Artists and Climate Change - exploring climate justice through the arts - websit

https://artistsandclimatechange.com/about/Link opens in a new window

Season for change - A UK wide cultural programme inspiring urgent and inclusive action on climate change 2020-21 - website

https://www.seasonforchange.org.uk/about/Link opens in a new window

Ergon Theatre creates performance-based work about futures and the climate crisis

https://www.ergontheatre.co.uk/Link opens in a new window

Art UK - Art in the time of climate crisis - article - website

https://artuk.org/discover/stories/cop26-art-in-the-time-of-climate-crisisLink opens in a new window

PoliNations

A major cultural event celebrating diversity and migration through the UK's people and plants as part of Unboxed: creativity in the UK.

https://polinations.com/about/Link opens in a new window

Change the World Together

A heart-warming and entertaining musical captures the spirit of the times, being about a young person determined to make a difference in the face of climate change.

https://www.starshine.co.uk/change-the-world-togetherLink opens in a new window

Teachwire - protest Art activity resource inspired by Bob and Roberta Smith

https://www.teachwire.net/teaching-resources/ks2-art-pshe-lesson-plan-create-protest-art-in-the-style-of-a-bob-and-roberta-smith-posterLink opens in a new window

Rise Art - article on artists confronting climate change

https://www.riseart.com/article/2485/9-artists-confronting-climate-changeLink opens in a new window

BBC 2 Inside Culture – Can Art Save the Planet? – 18 March 2022

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0015gyg/inside-culture-series-5-4-can-art-save-the-planetLink opens in a new window