Creative C-Change: analysing the impact of the Creative Climate Action Initiative on climate change awareness, engagement & action in Ireland. Creative Ireland.
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Published Version
Date
2023
Authors
Nyhan, Marguerite M.
Revez, Alexandra
MacMahon, Joanne
Burke, Michelle
Hogan, Padraig
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Creative C-Change
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Abstract
This Creative C-Change report presents key insights and learnings from the MaREI Centre for Energy, Climate & Marine and the Future Sustainability Research Group's engagement with five Creative Ireland-funded Creative Climate Action projects. The five selected projects were Crumlin Taking Action Together, Field Exchange, Kinship, LĂnte na Farraige and Repair Acts. The overarching aim of the research was to capture the impact of these arts, cultural and creative projects and their events on climate change awareness, engagement and action in Ireland.
The research team attended 65 Creative Climate Action events in 2022 and 2023. Data was collected through over 300 surveys, 19 interviews, 30 participant observations, 12 artist reflections and 2 workshops. In this research, we found that the Creative Climate Action events had a significant impact on audience members and participants in terms of increased awareness, positive engagement and motivation to act in relation to climate change. It was observed that the Creative Climate Action experiences provided new ways of engaging and new spaces for connecting and communicating in relation to the environment and climate change. Over 90% of audiences and participants agreed or strongly agreed that "the arts/ creative community has a role to play in addressing climate change" and that "artistic/ creative events can inspire people to take positive environmental action". The Creative Climate Action experiences enhanced connection with the natural environmental and motivated and empowered participants to act in relation to climate change. For example, 70% felt "empowered to take climate action" while 74% planned to take climate action or make changes to their behaviour or lifestyle. The experiences provided a sense of community as well as a sense of place and evoked positive emotional responses in relation to climate action. It was also observed that the unique processes and insights of artists enhanced communication and fostered change.
Reflections from the artists included that the Creative Climate Action experiences created a safe space for enhanced climate change communication. The experiences enabled participants to approach climate change in new and proactive ways facilitated by the unique knowledge, perspectives and creative practices of artists. It was also noted that site-specific contexts enhanced a sense of place and engagement with indigenous issues, as well as sustainability and climate action solutions and community connectedness.
Finally, the experiences enhanced bottom-up activism and empowerment in relation to climate action. Based on our research, it is evident that the Creative Climate Action projects had a profound impact on both audiences and artists in terms of increased awareness, engagement and action in relation to the environment and climate change. Our findings demonstrate that the arts and creative communities can play an extremely valuable role in enabling dialogue and engaging audiences in new perspectives and action on climate change. With the urgency of climate change, it is essential to recognise the significant potential of the arts and cultural sector in fostering new and alternative responses to climate change action.
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Keywords
Climate change awareness , Creative C-Change
Citation
Nyhan, M. M., Revez, A., Mac Mahon, J., Burke, M. and Hogan, P. (2023) 'Creative C-Change: analysing the impact of the Creative Climate Action Initiative on climate change awareness, engagement & action in Ireland. Final report'.
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© 2023, the Authors.