Monthly Archives: October 2022

‘Our Changing Landscape’ freelance exhibition curator

We wish to contract a freelance curator to devise and develop a temporary exhibition

Our Changing Landscape
Scotland is facing a climate emergency, with our historic environment already feeling the impact, from coastal erosion to flooding. Historic Environment Scotland is committed to playing its part in mitigating climate change, from our procurement processes to the tourism we promote.

We wish to contract a freelance curator to devise and develop a temporary exhibition for our visitors that explores how Scotland’s landscape has changed. It should use material drawn from Canmore, the National Record of the Historic Environment, Scran and relevant other sources.

The exhibition will take the form of a framed photography exhibition that will tour a number of our sites and partner museums. The exhibition content should cover the breadth of Scotland and interpretation will be translated into Gaelic.

The aims of the exhibition are to:

  • Engage visitors with the impact of climate change
  • Demonstrate the vulnerability of our cultural heritage
  • Highlight how archives can be used as a resource for understanding tangible impacts of climate change
  • Encourage reflection, without turning people off

We are looking for a freelance curator to develop the curatorial and interpretation aspects of this exhibition.

This includes:

  • Identifying visual content that will be printed and framed for the exhibition
  • Writing interpretation in an accessible and engaging way

This should be completed by 24 March 2023. A budget of £10,000 is available for this project, however we are aware that costs are rising rapidly and would encourage applicants to quote for what their realistic costs are, along with examples of previous work.

Responding to this invitation

  1. Please confirm you are able to deliver the work to the deadlines detailed above
  2. Please provide:
    1. Examples of previous work in heritage interpretation and climate change
    2. Details of your fee and your date rate for any additional work

Please provide the above by 8am on 7 November 2022 to:

Claire Whitbread
Exhibitions Manager
claire.whitbread@hes.scot
07798572019

(Top image: Aerial image of Nybster Broch [supplied].)

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Launching: SPRINGBOARD local assemblies for creative climate action

SPRINGBOARD local assemblies for creative climate action connect people and organisations working on culture and climate change from the same region so they can learn together, share knowledge and information and collaborate.

Join us at a local assembly to collaborate with your creative sector and climate change peers on the continuing journey towards net zero. See the dates, locations and details of local assemblies.

SPRINGBOARD local assemblies for creative climate action build on the work we’ve been doing for more than a decade: our Green Arts Initiative – a community of practice comprising more than 300 cultural organisations around Scotland working to reduce their climate impact – and  Climate Beacons – an innovative partnerships of cultural, climate change and civic society actors working to build deep-rooted, sustained public engagement with climate change.

Aiming to develop powerful local networks, the first local assemblies for creative climate action are taking place across Scotland in November and December 2022. Hosted in-person by leading cultural organisations, each local assembly will be individually designed for its location.

Practical workshops led by Creative Carbon Scotland will be selected from the following list of topics:

  • Harnessing the power of the creative sector to influence society on climate change
    Creative and cultural organisations have tangible and intangible assets with which they can influence society: the work they make, present or distribute; their long-term relationships and regular communications with loyal audiences; the ways in which they use and manage their buildings and estate; the examples they set through their behaviour and their values. This workshop will draw on findings from a recent meeting of Scotland’s national cultural institutions and UK climate action experts.
  • Carbon management for creative sector organisations
    Creative Scotland and other bodies are increasingly asking applicants for funding to measure, report and plan to reduce their carbon emissions. In this session we will share tools to identify and understand your main emissions, and together you will devise and commit to creative ways to tackle them. Appropriate for those with all levels of prior experience in carbon management (including none!).
  • Understanding cultural adaptation and your influence in the wider culture ecosystem
    Creative sector organisations are experiencing the impacts of climate change, from flooding to travel disruption but also warmer summers. Adaptation is the term given to thinking about how to manage the risks and grasp the opportunities this presents. This session will introduce you to climate adaptation in the context of your local area as well as globally, enabling you to identify your main climate change risks using our Adapting our Culture toolkit and collaboratively planning how to approach adaptation in your work.
  • Climate justice and arts & culture
    Climate justice is a way of understanding how climate change results from and exacerbates existing inequalities and injustices as well as how climate action can help create a fairer world. This workshop will share our research into how climate justice thinking is relevant to the creative sector in Scotland and provide opportunities to explore how this relates to your own organisation or individual practice.
  • Arts and environmental collaboration on climate change
    Collaboration between the arts and environmental sectors can create diverse opportunities for more effective action on climate change. This session will explore the ways that these fields can benefit from collaboration, offer examples of what has been achieved in the past and explore the practical steps needed to make collaborative projects a success. The session will end with an opportunity to consider what a collaborative climate change project would look like for you.
Local assemblies schedule

NB: Links will be added as soon as available

Each local assembly will finish with a discussion about what participants would like to happen next followed by light refreshments so participants can continue to develop their local network.

SPRINGBOARD local assemblies are free to attend and open to anyone interested in how culture and climate can work together, whether from organisations or as individuals working or volunteering in the arts, creative and screen industries, heritage, museums and libraries, and climate change / sustainability.

Each assembly will be fully accessible. BSL interpretation will be available if required. Please contact lowenna.hosken@creativecarbsonscotland.com or the local host at least one week in advance if we can help you attend.


The local assemblies are part of SPRINGBOARD: Assembly for creative climate action, a new long-term project, led by Creative Carbon Scotland, working to bring about transformational change in the arts and culture sector, and wider society, to help build a net-zero, climate-ready Scotland. We’ve envisaged SPRINGBOARD in these two parts so as to encompass both local and national challenges.

In January 2023 you’re invited to the first SPRINGBOARD: Assembly for creative climate action, which we are holding online.

While the local assemblies connect cultural and climate change individuals and organisations in a given region of Scotland, the annual assembly will bring participants together in cohorts of a given creative practice, eg theatre, visual art, libraries, etc to work on shared topics and interests.

Registration for the SPRINGBOARD assembly will open at the end of October.

Read more about SPRINGBOARD: assembly for creative climate action.

Follow all the SPRINGBOARD action on social media using #ClimateNeedsCulture.

The post Launching: SPRINGBOARD local assemblies for creative climate action appeared first on Creative Carbon Scotland.

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Arts and Culture at COP26 report released

We’ve released a new report exploring the roles of arts and culture around COP26, the United Nations climate conference held in Glasgow in November 2021. The report explores why COPs provide a special context for arts and culture to work in, provides detailed case studies of some representative projects, and offers tips and advice. 

Read the report here

COP26, which took place in Glasgow 2021, saw an outpouring of the artistic and cultural activity that has come to accompany these global climate conferences. The confluence of arts projects has become integral to how a COP is represented, not only in the media, but on the streets, in the buildings, and over the landscapes of the host country. COP can provide a unique opportunity for artists and cultural organisations to make new work, extend existing practices and engage new audiences.

This report was created by Lewis Coenen-Rowe, culture/SHIFT Producer at Creative Carbon Scotland, and researcher and artist Wallace Heim. It was commissioned by CreaTures (Creative Practices for Transformational Futures), a project investigating the power of creative practices to move the world towards socio-ecological sustainability, and designed by Savannah Vize.

Clockwise from top left: A still from the film ‘The Fifth Giant (or What Would You Do?)’, credit: Regina Mosch; A panel from the Stitches for Survival project, credit: Stitches for Survival; The Oi Musica core band, credit: Heather Longwell; The Sustainable Glasgow Landing Hub, credit: New Practice.

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CultureCOP International Assembly – October 31st, 2022

Culture Declares is partnering with CULTURECOP to bring together those creating, producing and supporting arts and culture in response to this time of Planetary crisis.

Mon, October 31, 2022, 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM GMT

BOOK HERE

If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go further, go together ‘ (African proverb)

Throughout time arts and culture have been at the heart of our worlds, connecting us and giving expression and voice to our experiences. They have the power to transform, heal and activate us. They help us look at the past, acknowledge the present and use our imaginations to vision for the future. What we dream, feel, see, and how act towards each other and the natural world are defined by culture.

In this time of ecological and social crisis, so much has already been lost at the hands of extractive, colonisation, consumerism, and a single story of progress. How can the lived experience and creative responses of those marginalised or on the frontlines, such as indigenous peoples and those in the Global South, be more centred?

Many parts of the arts, cultural and heritage industries are still complicit in causing harm. How can they break with business as usual and make radical and systemic changes to help create a more climate-just and safe world for all?

Culture is embedded into the very fabric of our lives and shapes the shared values that guide our actions. The multiple crises is an opportunity to dream a different story and co-create a more interconnected and just future together. Arts and culture across the Earth have a vital role to play in this transformative journey.

Join us on October 31st for the first CultureCOP International Assembly online

Bring your openness and wisdom, your experience and care, and your curiosity and willingness to listen.

The purpose of this Online Assembly is to:

  • Talk about the challenges of relinquishing harmful arts and cultural practices and the opportunities of embracing regenerative approaches to create a local and global transformation that brings reparations for injustice and thriving humanity and planet.
  • Ask ourselves what we can learn from the role of arts and culture in past COPs, and how to manifest that in the present and future COPs to support, challenge, and deepen the possibility of a more climate-just and safe world for all.

– Meet and connect with other creatives, artists, and activists and explore building a global coalition of arts and culture embedded in justice and resourced by equitable relationships.

Please note – This is not a drop-in event it will be participatory and emergent. Your full attention, presence and contribution will be a gift for now and in the future.

Elements of this online assembly will be fed directly into in-person CultureCOP happening in Dahab and its related events at COP27 in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt.

CultureCOP is a collaboration between Culture Declares Emergency, Community Arts Network, Community Arts Lab, Project Everyone, Earthrise, Minga Indigena, Medicine Festival, CJ-JT Donor Collaborative, Walking Forest, Julie’s Bicycle, Black and Indigenous Liberation Movement, Seyal Desert Hub, Doc Society, Cairo Jazz Club, Dar House of Arts & Culture, Eco Dahab, Porticus Foundation.

Culture COP is an emerging space that stands firm in the belief in the power of culture to transform and heal our planet and humanity. Culture COP calls on the world’s arts and culture makers to work together to co-create solutions for a just future where every living being thrives, and humanity lives in harmony with the environment.

Music video launch: WATER MUSIC source to sea

Sequoia string duo launch two new music/environmental videos created by filmmaker Monika Smekot

As part of their WATER MUSIC source to sea project, string duo Sequoia and filmmaker Monika Smekot have collaborated to create two music videos inspired by the River Clyde pathway.

Clota’s Song features music and text by Lisa Robertson and highlights the theme of Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Upstream Battle campaign: stopping marine litter at source. The film considers our relationship with the Clyde from past to present through the eyes of mythological Celtic river goddess, Clōta.

End of Rain/Clear Sky incorporates two tunes by Ayrshire fiddler Alastair Savage inspired by the view looking across from Ardrossan to the Isle of Arran. Created in association with the Community of Arran Seabed Trust and environmental coalition Save Scottish Seas, the film celebrates life above and below the water, and the successful restoration of a kaleidoscopic kingdom of sea-life in Lamlash Bay; Scotland’s first community-led marine protected area.


Share your news, events and opportunities!

This news was posted by Sequoia Duo. Creative Carbon Scotland is committed to being a resource for the arts & sustainability community and we invite you to submit news, blogs, opportunities and your upcoming events.

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Reflecting on Earthing Project film screening

On a warm September evening, we set out for an outdoor screening of 12 short films about human/nature relationships at the Pavilion Community Café in Edinburgh.

We first heard from Rebecca Palmer, a writer and filmmaker from the Earthing Project that created the short films. She explained how the films explore humans and our relation to the natural world through imagery, movement, music and storytelling. 

Earthing is a year-long art project, a collaboration among multidisciplinary artists and filmmakers and each film was made on one day (no matter the weather) a month for twelve months, throughout a year.

Introduction by Rebecca Palmer, Earthing Productions & Lewis Coenen-Rowe, Creative Carbon Scotland.

We next heard from the local environmental groups Shrub Hub, a cooperative in Edinburgh working for a world without waste by empowering the local community and from Nick Hepworth from Water Witness that works for better water resource management. Then we watched the 12 films, pausing halfway through for contributions from poets Scott Cassidy, Ali Millar and Jennifer Williams and the local organisation Earth in Common that works to make healthy food and nature accessible to children.

Driven by personal stories the films felt like a visual poem with the characters stepping into an almost ritualistic space of interaction with nature. Each film sought a connection with the natural landscape around us in a surreal setting where the line between humans, animals and nature were blurred.

The films were playful and shared a deep desire to reconnect with our environments, echoing a broken partnership with the natural world around us. All connected to the roots of the climate emergency, which arguably is also born out of a damaged relationship that needs to heal before we can move forward.

Glimpse of October film.

Find all the 12 films here.

Donations made by attendees were divided between the Pavilion Community Fund and the Stop Jackdaw campaign.

Reflections over craft beer by Decagram who supported the event.


About Green Tease

This event took place as part of the Green Tease events series and network, a project organised by Creative Carbon Scotland, bringing together people from arts and environmental backgrounds to discuss, share expertise, and collaborate. Green Tease forms part of our culture/SHIFT programme.

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Aphra Shemza – Sustainable Geometry, 2022

Commissioned by MKIAC

In collaboration with Shenley Brook End School

Programming by Jamie Howard

Dimensions: 210(h) x 215(w) x 30(d)cms

Material: Recycled polypropylene created by students in workshop with the artist, recycled Green Cast acrylic, LED and bespoke sound reactive circuit.


Sustainable Geometry was created by Aphra Shemza in collaboration with students from Shenley Brook End school. It combines the artist’s knowledge of sustainable design and the practice of co-creation to create a dynamic and interactive light artwork. 

Over the course of two days, students from Shenley Brook End school took part in plastic recycling workshops with the artist. In the workshops, they learned how to turn recycled plastic waste into sheet material and each created one of the tiles that make up the Islamic rosette of the sculpture.

The artwork was commissioned by the Milton Keynes Islamic Arts and Culture charity and the geometry used was inspired by the organisation. The Islamic rosette comes from the Mamluk Koran from Damascus, Syria created in 1338 AD. It represents our connection to one another, nature and the divine. By using this geometry in relationship with recycled plastic and co-creation the artist further highlights these ideas of connection and the need for looking after the planet.

The sculpture itself is sound-reactive. It uses a microphone to collect sound data and then converts the data into a light animation. The work responds to the sound that a viewer creates and also reacts to live or recorded music, changing over time creating a dynamic effect. It is immediately engaging to a viewer as there is a direct relationship to the sound they are making and the lighting of the pieces creating an instant and playful connection between the viewer and the artwork. Sustainable Geometry asks the viewer to contemplate their relationship to artwork itself and also the world around them and our responsibility to look after it.

Sustainable Geometry – Photography by David Wilman
Aphra Shemza and Sustainable Geometry – Photography by David Wilman

Job: Climate Emergency and Sustainability Lead

We are looking for an inspirational and confident Climate Emergency and Sustainability Lead.

Creative Scotland | Climate Emergency and Sustainability Lead

Salary: £41,934 (Grade D) plus pension and benefits
Contract: Fixed term until 30 September 2024
Full-time: 36 hours per week
Location: Further opportunities to discuss working arrangements, for example smarter working, will be offered. Must be in a commutable distance to a Creative Scotland office, in Edinburgh or Glasgow.

We are looking for an inspirational and confident Climate Emergency and Sustainability Lead to play a key role in Creative Scotland’s work in this area – and to join our energetic and dedicated staff team who are focused on supporting sustainability across the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland.

This is a critical new position within Creative Scotland, that will lead a small team and help embed the development of sustainability within the Scottish cultural sector.

The postholder will be expected to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders, organisations, and individuals to develop strategic partnerships as well as working closely with Creative Carbon Scotland and the Sustainability Manager for the Scottish screen sector on delivering on our climate emergency commitments.

Our ideal candidate will have experience of developing and implementing sustainability strategies and projects at an organisational level. You will also have up-to-date knowledge and understanding of climate change, sustainability practice, adaptation and mitigation.

In addition, you will be an excellent collaborator who can develop relationships with a range of partners to support, persuade and galvanise sustainability action. And you will be able to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills including, communication, influencing and collaboration in helping to motivate and positively inspire others in seeking sustainability-related solutions.

Closing date for receipt of completed application forms is: 9am, Monday 24 October 2022.

Interviews will be held on: Wednesday 9 November 2022.

If selected for interview you will be expected to be available on this date.

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Loisaida Renaissance: A Decade Above Water

For the past three years, we’ve gathered with a group of community members from the Lower East Side of Manhattan to reflect on the decade since Hurricane Sandy battered this vibrant historic neighborhood, and envision a thriving climate future through performance-making.

The LES Coastal Community Fellowship culminates on October 22 with Loisaida Renaissance: A Decade Above Water, a free performance event featuring interactive installations, resource sharing, refreshments, and an original play. The event is created by our Fellows: Keno Burckhardt, Jennifer Chiao, Antígona González, Amy Lee, Jonathan Martinez, Joshua Martinez, and Tatyanna Santana. Join us for this very special event:

LOISAIDA RENAISSANCE: A DECADE ABOVE WATER
Saturday October 22, 6pm
Flamboyan Theater in the Clemente Soto Vélez Center
107 Suffolk St. Manhattan

The L.E.S. Coastal Community Fellowship is a three-year creative residency for a group of neighbors from the Lower East Side of Manhattan to build community resilience to climate impacts and envision a thriving future for the LES through performance-making. The Fellowship is facilitated by Lanxing Fu and Chantal Bilodeau, and hosted by Superhero Clubhouse and Arts and Climate Initiative.

Past LES Fellows included Felicia Gordon, Sandra Santana, and Minna Periniva.

The October 22 event is directed by Megan Paradis Hanley and features additional performances by Miranda Hall Jiménez and Jackie Rivera.

Learn more about the LES Fellowship here!

A few of our Fellows in development mode: Keno Burckhardt, Antígona González and Jonathan Martinez

Call for Fellows: The Bentway’s Public Space Fellowship Program 2023

Application Deadline: November 3, 2022

Fellowship Dates: January 16, 2023 – May 31, 2023 (21.6 weeks)

Information Session: October 25, 2022

Prospective applicants are invited to participate in an online information session with The Bentway team to learn more about the Public Space Fellowship Program. The session will take place on October 26, 2022, from 12:30-2:00pm hosted by The Bentway team via webinar. Click here to register.

The Bentway’s Public Space Fellowship seeks to address sector-wide gaps and ensure that burgeoning talent, lived experience, and a diversity of expertise help shape a more sustainable city for all. Acknowledging the limitations and shortcomings of existing processes, The Bentway seeks to provide a paid professional development opportunity that provides resources, support, and a platform for learning, generative exchange, and capacity-building.

Working alongside The Bentway team, and a diverse group of season partners, the 2023 Public Space Fellowship will explore the intersection of sustainability and public space design, management, and programming. To learn more about the Fellowship, download the full Call for Fellows.