Title: THE POWER OF ART TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC ON THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE COAST
Abstract: There is an ‘implementation gap’ between warnings from scientists about impacts of climate change on the coast, and effective action to mitigate and/or adapt to these impacts. This suggests that the general public, and hence our elected members, are not engaged enough to tackle the associated challenges. Current engagement strategies are primarily concerned with the cognitive dimension of engagement, and ignore the affective and behavioural aspects. Underlying these dimensions are several personal, social and cultural barriers that limit engagement. I propose that artistic practices and processes can help to overcome these barriers. To this end I ask the following: How can art engage the public on the impacts of climate change on the coast? In what ways and to what extent can art overcome challenges of communicating climate change science? How can art empower individuals to genuinely effect change on the coast? In what ways can art foster behaviour change to mitigate and/or adapt to climate change impacts on the coast? How can art transform our view of reality from one based on reductionism to one more in line with complex systems theory? Both traditional art and ‘participatory art’ practices have characteristics that could complement science to effectively engage the public. These characteristics include: engaging people in unconventional ways and spaces; encouraging experimentation and play; creatively framing issues and questions; recognising, acknowledging and including emotions and feelings; encouraging imaginative visioning; connecting people to nature; portraying complex information in accessible ways; portraying the invisible; integrating diverse perspectives; and encouraging a focus on relationships. I suggest that these characteristics can help engage the public to encourage sustainable coastal management. 2 CONTENTS ABSTRACT
Publication Year: 2012
Publication Date: 2012-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 2
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