letter to the arts community about the ecological crisis

let’s put the climate emergency back onto our agendas

Note: A narrated version of the executive summary is available here.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This is a summary of my 10 page ‘letter to the arts community about the ecological crisis - let’s put the climate emergency back onto our agendas’. I invite you to read the complete letter here : in English or in French.

I also invite you to submit comments on this page, on any of my social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linked in) or directly to claude@conscient.ca. 

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Dear Canadian arts and cultural sector,

I hope these words find you well.

I’ve recently completed season 5 of my conscient podcast - balado conscient at La Montagnarde, an arts residency organized by l’ATSA : quand l’art passe à l'action, situated on the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe-Algonquin people (also known as St-Adolphe-d’Howard, Québec).

Let me get to the point. 

Based on recent conscient podcast conversations, I have observed that the climate emergency (as well as the larger ecological crisis) have fallen off the collective agendas of the Canadian arts and culture sector. 

The uncertainties we face are grim (see Disruptions on the Horizon).

I am advocating that these issues take their rightful place amongst our most urgent priorities and risk assessments. 

In my complete letter, I invite you to read and listen to your arts and cultural peers who make a strong case for increased dialogue and rapid change, including: 

• Owais Lightwala and SGS’s (e194) Manifesto for Now

• Robin Sokoloski (e201) and the Living Climate-Impact Framework for the Arts (also e195)

• SCALE-LESAUT (e176) and Mapping the path to net zero for c\a\n\a\d\a’s Arts and Culture Sector” – what we found out – and what we need to do now!

• Canada Council for the Arts & Mass Culture’s Climate Mitigation Strategies for the Arts and the Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for the Arts report

• Ian Garrett (e182) and Sarah Fioravanti (é158) on CG Tools Canada

• Alex Sarian’s The Audacity of Relevance

And much more (in the letter)…

We need to connect these critical initiatives by developing a ‘national arts and climate strategy’ as recommended by SCALE-LeSAUT so that the arts and cultural sector can play a much larger role in creative climate actions and solutions (both short and long term).  

I think we can get there if we work together. My complete letter includes some practical suggestions and links.

In the meantime, the next season of conscient podcast - balado conscient will focus on ‘art and culture in times of crisis and collapse’ including an ‘artists survival kit’ (working title) : a set of practical tools and resources for artists to adapt and respond to the risks of ecological and societal collapse. This project will be informed by advisory circles. If you would like to participate, please contact me at claude@conscient.ca.

Thanks for your consideration. 

And if you agree with what I propose in this letter, I invite you to share it and talk about it with your peers. 

I submit this letter with respect and in solidarity.

Claude Schryer