Staging climate action: arts activism for climate justice

What is art's role in climate justice? Professor Aylwyn Walsh, Professor Paul Routledge and South Africa–based Well Worn Theatre Company explored how arts activism can support climate justice mobilisation, education and capacity-building. The project placed an emphasis on the role of creative practice within South African climate justice movements, especially among young activists and community organisers.

While initially designed as a single intensive workshop, the project grew in ambition and reach through strong partnerships and additional support by Well Worn Theatre Company, enabling sustained engagement across multiple events in and around Johannesburg.

Impact

• Community collaboration: brought together climate justice activists, artists and organisers to share experiences, map place-based climate and social justice issues, and collectively reflect on how arts approaches can mobilise, educate and generate visibility for campaigns
• Public engagement through a filmed theatre show, a public panel discussion, and a podcast series.

Key information

• Major funders: University of Leeds Impact Acceleration Account
• Partners and collaborators: Well Worn Theatre Company, East Leeds Community Radio (ELCR), Amehlo Films
• Disciplines: performance and culture, geography, environment
• Investigators: Professor Aylwyn Walsh, Professor Emeritus Paul Routledge.

Keywords: climate change, climate change activism, climate activism, climate justice, community resilience, South Africa, international collaboration, extreme weather, interdisciplinary, climate change mitigation and adaptation

This project was sponsored by the University’s Impact Acceleration Account