A timely investment in the role of artists as socio-environmental agents of change can unlock a vast missing contribution towards the care and protection of people and planet.
Art as process rather than products
The arts have come a long way in moving from an image of art products for sale, changing hands as investments at greater prices, to the fact of the creative process of engagement, pooling the creativity of artists and the population to move the goal posts and unlock a vast missing contrition towards the care and protection of people and planet.
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It’s also a good idea to include emergency contact information into your travel kit.
Everyone is an artist
Everyone has heard of the assertion that Everyone is an artist. By that Joseph Beuys pinpointed the fundamental reality that creativity is present in everyone in continuity with the creativity of professionals such as artists that use creativity at its peak. He has brought to our attention that the creativity of the design of processes that bring together the creativity of artists and the population are fundamentally powerful and our conscious creation of frameworks that amplify this can make a specific difference.
Invest in artists working at the peak of creativity to build aspiration to act for people and planet
I am quite sure that I am talking to the converted here as the arts have been carving out a role within the environmental sector for some time. It is great that we have a spectrum of artists – in the pure arts, in community arts and now as socio-environmental agents of change. Surely local authorities working in partnership with large resourced environmental organisations and the Arts Council can see their way to funding permanent positions for at least 2 artists per borough.
We can be very proud that the UK has the most developed and largest voluntary sector in the world. In London alone there are over 120,000 voluntary groups. It is a huge community force, a web that we must consciously engage and resource. And investing in artists as socio-environmental agents of change is on the cards.
And we have come a long way since the origins of do-gooding, when once the disadvantaged were seen as completely ignorant and helpless and we just did things to them. Then we progressed to thinking oh maybe they do know something but really still we need to do it for them. Now we have arrived at a point where we know we must do things with them against that very demanding context of equal partnership. But ultimately, we must stop being outsiders, engaging on and off, constantly losing the progress we had made, and decide to build ongoing relationships where working with community is about being part of community. Then we are in touch enough to be inside what is in fact a continuous consultation, using that relationship to address the needs, the wishes and the potential of contribution of our local communities.
Using artists is a strategic approach, because this layer of engagement, the creativity of ideas and process, can purposefully transform society and build the aspiration to act. Once motivation is in place, then information specific to particular actions focused on clear environmental issues, and capacity building such as the skills of volunteering to tackle certain habitats, completes the picture, delivering high quality contribution.
Diversity equality inclusion climate justice and full participation
The co-creation of our future with our communities is the biggest challenge of our time. There are things that only government can do and there are things that only community can do. And a focus on the disadvantaged, including ethnic minorities is in tune with the present climate of putting fairness high on the agenda. Social justice environmental justice and racial justice come together to make up climate justice.
When we speak of social justice, the most vulnerable groups, including ethnic minorities, come to mind. Social justice, and with it the themes of diversity, equality and inclusion are integral to growing full participation. Using artists, desirably in permanent roles, recognises the relational character of working creatively with communities and ultimately reaping their impassioned contribution. When the connections with the beauty and magnificence of nature is made and we understand the interdependence of people and planet, passion to work for its survival, and therefore for our own survival, is the natural outcome.