The food, fuel and goods that drive us through the day are connected in the way we use the planet's resources. When this is discussed, the topic often comes up as measurable factors in statistics, graphs and goals targeted in percentages. This can seem rather technical, overwhelming and distancing. When also exploring the creative, imaginative and emotional sides of living an environmentally friendly life, new directions and solutions can appear.
Diversity of the brain
The brain is wired to handle challenges and take on new learning with different approaches. Developmental psychologist Howard Gardner claims that the human brain has several forms of intelligence to bring into play; “In order to capture the full range of abilities and talents that people possess, Gardner theorizes that people do not have just an intellectual capacity, but have many kinds of intelligence, including musical, interpersonal, spatial-visual, and linguistic intelligences.” Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences.
When facing complex crises, such as those related to climate change, it makes sense to consider the possibility of creative processes as a means to generate engagement and solutions.
Diversity of community
The article How Creativity & Culture Can Support Communities explains the concept of ‘creative placemaking’ as a cultural and arts led approach that uses creativity as a support structure for communities to take a leading role in the development of their places. As Katharine Wheeler of The Stove Network and Director of WWDN (Creative Placemaking Network) states; “New approaches are needed that enable local communities to come together to work through ideas, think differently, address challenges and come up with their own solutions whilst at the same time building the capacity to take this forward for themselves.”
Some of the benefits emphasised in the article are that creative placemaking is effective at developing community engagement, can amplify less heard voices, and support the development of community capacity and partnerships to effect real change.
The Power of Storytelling: Communicators as Catalysts for Climate Action by Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet says; “Climate change is often portrayed through scientific reports and data, which can feel disconnected from our everyday lives. By sharing personal stories and highlighting the human faces behind the statistics, communicators can humanise the issue and make it relatable to audiences.”
People can relate and empathise with stories in a way that numbers cannot. Stories of resilience, adaptation and community-led initiatives can inspire hope and motivate action.
'Climate Creativity' refers to the role that creativity can play in dealing with the climate crisis. A four minutes video from the University of Oxford, Climate Creativity: The power of the word to tackle the climate emergency, points out five key elements that support a climate creative approach. They are centred around the possibilities of seeing the world anew and redesigning our culture and ways of understanding the world.
A healthy inner and outer world
In relation to the exhibition Health and the Climate and Ecological Emergency, the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust stated; “Our response to this crisis may vary: from measured expressions of hope through to feelings of despair. Art is one way of articulating and processing these feelings and of sharing envisaged solutions.”
Art and creative processes are not only for professional artists, we can all express ourself in creative ways. Our next climate event Community writing - for a climate friendly future is a workshop designed to help you explore your feelings and experiences of the climate and ecological emergency, as well as your positive experiences of the natural world. Guided by Chris Powici and Sandy Winterbottom from Paperboats, attendees will be supported in a process of creating stories for positive climate action. If you would like to join, please sign up via the Eventbrite link. This event is for community groups and organisations based or operating in Glasgow and is supported by Glasgow Climate Action Hub. If you are reading this blog and the event has already passed, please contact us at info@gcah.scot and we'll be happy to support you in exploring other creative approaches within your climate work.
Interesting to think of creativity rather than statistics as a way to view our actions