About episode
Might it be that the climate crisis requires not just technological change but also culture change. Might it be that as a civilization we need profound shifts in how we think, speak and act. If that’s the case, then art and creative expression will be critical to stretching our imaginations and to creating the new narratives, paradigms and mindsets that underpin our society.
Planning for this episode I became fascinated with the role and potential of artistic movements in creating culture change. I actually recorded this episode with a live audience of designers and creative people at IDEO, the design firm where I work. And so the pressure was on.
After extensive research, I was thrilled to find Raquel deAnda and Gan Golan. Raquel is an artist, curator and cultural producer involved in many climate and social justice organizations, and she helps lead the US Department of Arts and Culture. Gan Golan artist, activist, creative strategist, and NY Times bestselling author and he is a co-founder of the Climate Clock.
Raquel and Gan met while designing and organizing the role of art in the 2014 People’s Climate March. That was one of the largest climate mobilizations in history and so they bring really informed perspectives on the power of creativity in the climate movement. We talked about that experience, the work they’re doing now, how artists continue to impact the climate movement and advice for anyone that wants to use their creativity to address climate change. So whether you’re an artist, creatively curious or just eager for that culture change we need – this episode has a lot you’ll enjoy. Here we go.
In today’s episode, we cover:
- [3:11] How Raquel and Gan met
- [4:04] The role of art and creativity at the People’s Climate March
- [7:05] The impacts of the March on the climate justice movement
- [10:59] What is actually happening and what is the pushback
- [14:33] What is Climate Clock and what is it aiming to achieve
- [18:41] How can people get involved and utilize Climate Clock’s resources
- [19:56] Examples of art as an organizing strategy
- [21:02] What is the US Department of Arts and Culture and what is it aiming to achieve
- [24:32] Traction for supporting artists through local government
- [26:16] Funding barriers for climate creatives and ways to support
- [30:27] How to elevate the urgency of climate in our public discourse
- [33:54] Advice for creatives interested in climate justice work
- [36:19] How to bring climate action into the house as parents
- [39:34] Finding inspiration and emerging ideas
- [43:14] Other climate resources: Like the Waters, We Rise
- [45:37] Lifting up joy in work and activism
The role of art and creativity in the People’s Climate March
The 2014 People’s Climate March in New York brought over 300,000 people into the streets. Over 2 million people signed a petition for climate action. And as a result, people in over 150 countries showed their support by joining local marches. Art and creativity played a huge factor in getting people to show up and inspiring change. The art wasn’t just about making banners and science; it became very central to the organizing of the March itself. Gan reveals that the mantra became “art is an organizing strategy,” serving as a game changer in the way that we build people-power.
Hundreds of communities came together, using art to highlight their causes and broadcast their stories on a mass scale. It could have been 300,000 people all showing up with different signs about 100 different issues, but Gan and Raquel instead framed the story of one big movement highlighting the intersectional nature of the climate justice movement, from labor rights to immigrant rights to beekeepers. It inspired people, invited them into the movement, and helped form new groups around the different stories that people wanted to tell. This helped forge a stronger climate justice coalition that has resulted in some long-term and lasting impacts.
What is Climate Clock and what is it aiming to achieve
The Climate Clock melds art, science, technology, and grassroots organizing to get the world to #ActInTime. The project is centered on a simple tool: a clock that counts down the critical time window to reach zero emissions (our “Deadline”), while tracking our progress on key solution pathways (“Lifelines”). By showing us what we need to do by when, the Clock frames our critical mission — a rapid and just transition to a safe climate future — and puts it at the very forefront of our attention.
If you’ve seen a climate clock, there are monumental versions that are being installed in major cities around the world. There’s one in Union Square in New York City. There are also smaller handheld versions activists are now carrying into UN negotiation spaces and other places where decisions are being made.
What is the US Department of Arts and Culture and what is it aiming to achieve
The US Department of Arts and Culture (USDAC) is not a federal agency. It’s actually a national people-powered network composed of artists, activists and allies that embodies what a government department of art could be. The USDAC has been around for over 10 years, but has recently started a new cultural organizing and storytelling project called the People’s WPA – a blueprint for reimagining our society in the wake of COVID-19 co-created by community-based artists and cultural workers. The project was inspired by President FDR’s Works Progress Administration, which was developed in 1935 to create a path out of the Great Depression. With an understanding that cultural work needs to be supported and funded in order to build a path forward, the USDAC has developed a proposal and is now calling upon policymakers to institute a publicly-funded Artists Works program devised along seven key themes: healing, nourishment, liberation, regeneration, remembering, truth telling, and deepening democracy. The People’s WPA keystone publication features the work of 25 artists and collectives transforming society today, along with 25 graphic posters, essays from the field, and a policy toolkit on how to advocate for a federally funded public works program. Raquel explains that their goal in the next couple of years is to help artists and cultural workers push municipal governments to fund artists works programs, because municipal governments are an easier reach perhaps than a federal government.
Advice for creatives interested in climate justice work
For those seeking to use their creativity to address climate change, both Gan and Raquel recommend that individuals find out what’s already going on and reach out to communities involved. Wherever you live, there is bound to be folks who have been fighting this for a long time that would love your support and your participation – so finding the climate justice work that is happening near you is a great place to start. There are also national organizations that are worth supporting and getting involved in from the Sunrise Movement to the Climate Justice Alliance. All of these groups have really started to understand the power of art and creativity and have made it very central to their strategy. So if you yourself are an artist or creative person of any kind, your talents would be welcomed to be part of these networks. You can always start your own local group and invite people yourself to fight on these these critical issues that your community might be facing or that we’re fighting for at a global level. The opportunities to plug in are endless.
Resources & People Mentioned
- Climate Clock
- US Department of Arts and Culture
- Climate Justice Alliance
- Like the Waters, We Rise
- Friday’s for Future
- Sunrise Movement
Connect with Raquel deAnda and Gan Golan
Connect With Jason Rissman
Subscribe to Invested In Climate
