‘Art and Ecology’ connects people and climate

As part of their work on their Open Societal Challenge ‘Art and Ecology’ on Saturday 1st February Dr Carla Benzan and Dr Sam Shaw ran a four-hour family workshop at Perth Museum, Scotland, on the theme of ‘The Polar Bears of Perth’. ‘The Polar Bears of Perth’ is a 15-minute film made in Perthshire with Scottish filmmaker Libby Penman. Sam Shaw led the production, which took place in collaboration with the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and Perth Art Gallery and Museum. It asked why images of polar bears are often used today to symbolise the climate crisis – but how and why have artists represented polar bears in the past. Carla and Sam were invited to return to Perth to screen the film in the museum as part of the museum’s recent and acclaimed climate-themed exhibition ‘Waters Rising’.

The family event was a huge success, with participants helping us power the film screening using only pedal-power – a truly transformative source of renewable energy! Avid cyclers and art enthusiasts alike ranged from 8 to 80 years old.  The audience enjoyed learning more about these iconic animals and how they are part of local collections; kids enjoyed the free ‘zine’ ‘Field Guide to Scottish Polar Bears’ created by Sam to get people thinking about how and why polar bears became the ‘face’ of climate change.

While some participants were cycling and watching the film – others were creating their own artworks based on paintings in Scottish collections. Carla and Sam worked with eco-art historian and Art and Ecology Project Manager Clemence Aycard to devise a creative activity for all ages to run alongside the film screening. In this intergenerational activity, families used local maps and printouts of paintings of Scottish landscapes and towns from the collection to create new landscapes for their own ‘polar bears of Perth’. 

The aim was to get people to think about what it would be like if polar bears actually did live in Perthshire in the future. One child’s collage featured a speech bubble proclaiming ‘I’m a person too!’ and she told us that animals are just as important as people are!

The different parts of the event prompted discussions and thoughts about people’s daily lives and climate impacts. One participate wrote: ‘'I love nature and the outdoors and often go out on walks or cycles and worry about what we are doing to the environment and wildlife. Especially bees.’ Another reflected: ‘We need to look after our wonderful planet and I feel privileged to live in Perthshire’ and another shared ‘Art always reveals something about the environment and the nature which is endless and gives us a chance to live in this beautiful world.’

After the family event we gave a talk inside the ‘Waters Rising’ exhibition at the Museum. Our presentation showed that historic art can be used to understand the contemporary climate crisis in surprising and empowering ways. The talk was called ‘Rising Waters in Art and Science’ and several attendees shared that the lecture caused them to fundamentally rethink their understanding of art and environment. It was exciting to see these diverse Perthshire residents energised and engaged with climate issues as a result.

Over the day in Perth we welcomed over 160 visitors, many of whom stayed for over half an hour (and many stayed much longer than that!). The museum was thrilled at the turn out and told us that they hope to do more programming like this in the future.  Carla and Sam are pursuing an external funding bid to support museums interested in bringing climate issues and actions. This afternoon event showed just how important museums and artworks can be as we seek a more sustainable future.