Symposium brings art, environment and science together at The Burton

Lilli Geissendorfer during the Panel 2 discussion

Artists, scientists and local environmental agencies came together to discuss the role of art and arts organisations in raising awareness of climate change at an event led by The Burton last month.

The Melting Ice | Rising Tides: Art and Environment Symposium was organised alongside The Burton’s spring exhibition by artist Emma Stibbon RA, which considered how the warming environment of the polar regions is impacting on the changing UK coastline we experience every day. The event aimed to extend the themes of the exhibition for audiences interested in the intersection of art and the environment.

After an introduction from Chris Fuller, Economic Development Manager at Torridge District Council, Panel 1 discussed the role of art in making global events relevant to local areas. Chaired by Tracey Elliott (The Pickwell Foundation), speakers included Emma Stibbon RA (Artist), Dr Heidi Morstang (Artist Researcher, University of Plymouth) and Anne le Brocq (Glaciologist, University of Exeter), who provided a scientist’s perspective on the situation.

Following this, Katy Lee from North Devon Biosphere hosted a round table discussion which began with local environmental organisations including The Resurgence Trust, Torridge District Council, Exeter Science Centre, The Collective at Woolsery, North Devon Biosphere and The Pickwell Foundation. The conversation encouraged audience participation and many people got involved to share their views and knowledge.

Rich conversation

After a delicious lunch using locally sourced products courtesy of The Farmers Arms in Woolsery, Panel 2 focused on the role of arts organisations in raising awareness of climate change, with speakers Lilli Geissendorfer (Director, Theatre Green Book), John Kenneth Paranada (Curator of Art and Climate Change, Sainsbury’s Centre) and Helen Record (Head of Research and Content at Robilant+Voena), chaired by Harriet Cooper (Director, The Burton at Bideford). The breadth of experience from the various sectors – commercial galleries, publicly funded galleries, and performing arts – meant there was a rich conversation, which sparked further points of discussion with delegates.

The day concluded with a creative workshop led by Saili Katebe, encouraging delegates to reflect on the day through the medium of poetry, before a last chance to view Emma Stibbon’s exhibition and continue conversations.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the symposium which was attended by almost 100 people across three venues in our Kingsley Road Community: The Burton at Bideford, The Bideford Amateur Athletic Club, and SPACE Youth Services. Feedback from the event shows us that there is an appetite for platforms that encourage collaboration between artists, scientists and environmentalists, and The Burton team are excited to explore our role in this conversation going forward.

“Thank you – what a fantastic event – timely, inclusive, well-considered, well-run, and a great gathering of people and positive ideas for change. This has begun some important conversations and joined up some good local/global thinking, and I hope we will continue the dialogue.”