Internationalism & the Arts in an Ecologically Conscious Age

More and more people are recognising that the relentless pursuit of economic growth predicated on GDP is increasingly unsustainable.

Not only is it is accelerating global resource depletion and climate change, posing a profound threat to humanity and the ecology of the planet, it is increasing inequality and having a limited impact on wellbeing. As we start to shape a new age of greater ecological consciousness and begin to face up to the realities of living with less money, less carbon and less ‘stuff’, will the flow of international cultural collaboration and exchange have to diminish?  Or can the arts help evolve new approaches to internationalism and engagement across cultures ensuring that cultural exchange, the lifeblood of innovation and civilisation, remains unstemmed?

These were the questions that framed the fourth Peer to Peer event, Internationalism and the Arts in an Ecologically-Conscious Age which we held in partnership with ERA21 in London in October 2010.

Overview

The conversation was led by, Judith Knight, Artsadmin, Marshall Marcus, SouthBank Centre and Lewis Biggs, Liverpool Biennale and Chaired by Gerald Lemos,who at this time was Chair of Iniva. MMM took the occasion to launch Sustainable Ability, a Paul Hamlyn Foundation supported project to help drive forward transformative responses to resource scarcity and climate change from individuals and organisations working in the arts.

Featured panellist - Judith Knight

Responses from participants

Views from the other panellists