Today marks the release of the Climate Beacons evaluation report, which documents the successes of the Climate Beacons project and shares learning and recommendations. Read on for a link to the report and our press release.
PRESS RELEASE: Climate Beacons celebrates success of first year
An innovative national climate change initiative bringing together cultural and environmental organisations is celebrating its first year of success with the release of a report demonstrating its achievements.
The Climate Beacons initiative was launched in June 2021 by the arts and sustainability charity Creative Carbon Scotland to mobilise Scotland’s people in response to the COP26 United Nations climate talks that took place in Glasgow in November 2021 and for the future. The Beacons are collaborations between local cultural organisations, environmental agencies, research institutions, and community groups based in seven regions across Scotland that create events and activities that respond to the most pressing environmental issues in their locations. These include Scotland’s temperate rainforests, industrial heritage, water, adaptation to climate change, land use, biodiversity, and green jobs. The initiative is also funded by the Scottish Government, Creative Scotland and Museums Galleries Scotland.
Culture Minister Neil Gray said: ‘Almost a year on from COP26 in Glasgow, Climate Beacons are continuing to produce a rich, creative mix of events and activities for people and communities across Scotland to raise awareness of climate change. These projects reflect the Scottish Government’s ambition to put our heritage and culture at the heart of place-based solutions and climate justice to advance regional equity and diversity.’
The seven Climate Beacons are in Argyll, Caithness & East Sutherland, Fife, Inverclyde, Midlothian, The Outer Hebrides and Tayside.
The report by PhD researcher Emma Hall supported the value of the Beacons’ culture- and community-centred approach. Over 160 events took place, involving more than 50 organisations and over 18,000 attendees. The report concludes that activities attracted diverse audiences and successfully engaged new people in the climate conversation, while localised creative approaches brought abstract climate concepts to life and audiences expressed a strong appetite for further work.
Ben Twist, director of Creative Carbon Scotland, said ‘The point of the Climate Beacons and indeed our mission is to demonstrate that the arts and culture are an essential ally for addressing climate change, so we’re thrilled that Hall’s evaluation confirms the initiative’s success. And that success is due to the hard work and determination of all the people who worked on the Beacons in the initiative’s first year, making a huge difference despite the global pandemic. ‘
Read the Climate Beacons evaluation report here.
Read the summary for policymakers here.
ENDS
Contact
Lewis Coenen-Rowe, Climate Beacons project organiser, lewis.coenen-rowe@creativecarbonscotland.com
Lynn Aylward, public relations manager, Lynn.Aylward@creativecarbonscotland.com, 07376736624
Notes to editors
Photos, graphics and the individual press releases from the seven Climate Beacons are available in this Google Drive folder https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-n0NI0yAajat2HFJYaIdZ0ihp5n0fNdZ?usp=sharing
The Climate Beacons initiative was founded by Creative Carbon Scotland, an arts and sustainability charity, and is funded by the Scottish Government, Creative Scotland and Museums Galleries Scotland. Creative Carbon Scotland is overseeing the project, connecting the seven Beacons and offering support throughout, alongside six co-ordinating partners Architecture & Design Scotland, Creative Scotland, Edinburgh Climate Change Institute, Museums Galleries Scotland, Scottish Library and Information Council, and Sustainable Scotland Network.
To learn more about the Climate Beacons, keep up to date on the latest projects and events, and get involved, visit www.climatebeacons.com.
The seven Climate Beacons are:
- Argyll: This partnership between Cove Park and Argyll and the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust (ACT) focused on Scotland’s rainforest. Most of this unique, temperate habitat sits within Argyll and the Beacon aimed to raise awareness of this woodland through environmental and cultural activity, and to encourage local and wider communities to enjoy and participate in the region’s rich natural heritage.
- Caithness and East Sutherland: A collaboration between Lyth Arts Centre, the University of the Highlands and Islands Environmental Research Institute, and Timespan for the first phase of the project, the Caithness and East Sutherland Beacon focussed on climate colonialism, land justice and redistribution under the heading ‘The land for those that work it’.
- Fife: The Leven Programme, ONFife and Levenmouth Academy came together with the goal to channel the arts and build on local climate action to engage Levenmouth residents, encourage climate conversations, build stronger communities, and share the work of the Beacon partnership and local community groups to inspire further action.
- Inverclyde: Formed of a partnership between Beacon Arts Centre, Belville Community Garden Trust, RIG Arts and Inverclyde Libraries, among others, the Inverclyde Beacon focussed on the roles of climate change mitigation and adaption as part of Scotland’s most economically deprived area’s recovery from Covid-19.
- Midlothian: A collaboration between the National Mining Museum Scotland (NMMS), British Geological Survey (BGS), and environmental artist and soil hydrologist, Nicole Manley, the Midlothian Beacon created a transformative journey following the carbon cycle, from Scotland’s past legacy of fossil fuels towards a future of decarbonisation. It aimed to connect through art and science and to engage with local audiences, particularly those marginalised from climate conversations.
- The Outer Hebrides (Làn Thìde): This partnership between An Lanntair arts centre, Taigh Chearsabhagh museum and arts centre, Ceòlas, Community Energy Scotland, Western Isles Libraries, TSI Western Isles, NatureScot, Adaptation Scotland and the wider Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership Climate Change Working Group operated under the name Làn Thìde. The Outer Hebrides Climate Beacon focussed on how the islands can adapt to the worsening impacts of climate change while celebrating their unique natural and cultural heritage.
- Tayside: A partnership between Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre, the James Hutton Institute, V&A Dundee, Abertay University, Creative Dundee and many other partners in Dundee, Perthshire and Angus. The Tayside Beacon aimed to develop an empowered and connect changemakers to collaborate on public engagement activities and to elevate and champion local work on climate action across rural and urban areas.
About Creative Carbon Scotland: Creative Carbon Scotland believes in the essential role of the arts, screen, cultural and creative industries in contributing to the transformational change to a more environmentally sustainable Scotland. We work directly with individuals, organisations and strategic bodies engaged across cultural and sustainability sectors to harness the role of culture in achieving this change. Through year-round work and one-off projects, we combine strategic expertise and consultancy; bespoke carbon management training and guidance; and a range of programmes supporting the development of artistic practices in Scotland which address sustainability and climate change. www.creativecarbonscotland.com. Stay in touch with us via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Read the Climate Beacons evaluation report here.
Read the summary for policymakers here.
You can access links to local press releases for the seven Climate Beacons by following this link.
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