Nestival of Ideas Ep. 2 - Green Revolution or Greenwashing

Nestival of Ideas talk/panel discussion held at The Nest 16th Sept 2022
Green Revolution or Greenwashing? Can artists really change the world?

With the Climate Emergency having truly (finally) hit the mainstream, this panel discussion seeks to explore the impact art and artists can actually have on changing behaviour and combating the climate emergency. We’ve long been told that the arts are the best tool for awareness raising – but is this enough? When awareness is raised, how is action galvanised? Where do the arts go next?

There’s a growing interest in making ‘green’ work, and increased funding available – but what are the funders’ motivations, and expectations? How do we spot virtue signalling or avoid our projects being derailed by others’ agendas? Many supposedly green projects are not made in a sustainable way, or are blatant greenwashing – and of course the arts are not alone in this – but what are the ethics here? If such a project succeeds in creating positive change, does that make it ok? Is anything that slows the handcart allowed, or must artists making green projects that seek to change people’s behaviour be beyond reproach?

We’re interested in untangling some of this, and provoking a lively discussion which will give people lots to think about afterwards (and hopefully lead to some lasting behaviour change!).

On the panel:

Farah Ahmed, Climate Justice Lead and Events Coordinator at Julie’s Bicycle; Amanda Roberts, Independent Producer, formerly Green Futures lead at Coventry 2021; and Mish Weaver, Artistic Director and originator of Parade of Horribles. The discussion will be chaired by Janet Vaughan, Co-Artistic Director of Talking Birds.