Colour Green Lab: Climate in Arts

In early 2023 I’m participating in The Colour Green Lab, an environmental knowledge and skills programme which supports and empowers cultural practitioners and artists of colour to lead environmental action. This digital programme aims to advance sustainable practice and co-create expertise at the intersection of culture and climate justice.

“How we steward our relationship with the natural environment is, at its heart, a question of justice: who gets to pollute, how much and where, who benefits and who pays the costs?”

- Julie’s Bicycle

What is often recognised as ‘the environmental movement’ in most European countries remains dominated by the voices and perspectives of the white middle-class. The same can be said of the arts and cultural sector – particularly at leadership level. This glaring, systemic, and overlapping underrepresentation means that the stories and solutions proposed in response to climate breakdown are wholly inadequate and reinforce corrosive inequalities.

It is essential to challenge the structures which perpetuate environmental injustice, and ensure cultural leaders and artists from communities of colour have the tools and support they need to advocate for climate action and justice within the sector and society.

Led by Julie’s Bicycle as part of the Arts Council England environmental sustainability programme, The Colour Green Lab will connect arts, culture, and creative practice with environmental science, policy and justice. The series of workshops will provide access to learning, inspiration from the sector, and a new community of practice.

Check out the podcast: https://juliesbicycle.com/resource/the-colour-green-judy-ling-wong/