Water Talks

Arlene Goldbard and François Matarasso interview Betsy Damon whose work with water has had a healing impact across the globe. She talks about her work from early projects in China to her current undertakings.
 
OCTOBER 17 | SERIES 2025

STREAM A CULTURE OF POSSIBILITY | EPISODE 57

PARTICIPANTS

 

Betsy Damon | Arlene Goldbard | François Matarasso

COMMENTARY

Betsy Damon is an internationally-recognized artist whose public work and living systems, such as the Living Water Garden, have received widespread acclaim. 

In 1991 Damon founded Keepers of the Waters,[23] a nonprofit organization that serves as an international community to encourage "art, science and community projects for the understanding and remediation of living water systems." The nonprofit is run with a collaborative approach and was started with the support of the Hubert Humphrey Institute.

In 2006, Damon, alongside a group of artists, scientists, and funders, met in Vancouver and created a summary report for UNESCO titled <strong>Art in Ecology – A Think Tank on Arts and Sustainability.</strong> UNESCO had commissioned a report in advance of this meeting titled <em>Mapping the Terrain of Contemporary EcoART Practice</em>, of which the meeting and summary report were a result.

She is the author of <strong>Water Talks: Empowering Communities to Know, Restore, and Preserve their Waters.</strong>

On episode 57 of A Culture of Possibility, Arlene Goldbard and François Matarasso interview Betsy Damon. 

Her work with water has had a healing impact across the globe and in this fascinating episode, she talks about her early projects in China and the work she’s undertaking now. 

She also shares excellent advice for others who want to help.  

REFERENCES

 

Betsy Damon’s website

Betsy Damon’s CV

Betsy Damon in Wikipedia