Season for Change
A UK-wide cultural programme inspiring urgent and inclusive action on climate change from 2020-2021.
Update in April 2022:
Season for Change has come to a close. We shared a report in April 2022 showing the success, impact and reach of the programme which you can read in various accessible formats. Lead partners Artsadmin and Julie’s Bicycle thank you all for being part of the Season.
Season for Change showcased the creativity and leadership of the UK’s cultural sector on the most important issue of our time – the climate crisis – through 16 artistic commissions and an open programme where all artists and arts organisations were invited to host events, artworks and actions across the UK to declare their commitment to the environment and inspire urgent and inclusive action on climate change.
Season for Change aimed to mobilise creatives and cultural organisations to put climate action at the heart of their practice and programming, and platform voices that are historically excluded from the climate conversation. In the run up to COP26 – the UN’s climate negotiations hosted by the UK in November 2021 – Season for Change aimed to showcase the leadership of the cultural sector on the biggest issue of our time.
Season for Ex-Change was a programme of free online events for artists, arts organisations, cultural practitioners, producers, curators and anyone who wants to learn about, share knowledge or get ideas and inspiration on embedding climate action and climate justice in their artistic and creative work.
Season for Change is led by Artsadmin and Julie’s Bicycle, delivered in collaboration with partners nationwide and supported by Arts Council England and Paul Hamlyn Foundation. With support from the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP).
What we are doing
From June 2020-November 2021, Season for Change energised artists and cultural organisations to put climate action at the heart of their programming, with a priority of centring communities and groups that have been previously underrepresented in and excluded from conversations about culture and climate. We did this through:
- Season for Ex-Change’s free online events and resources to empower artists and cultural organisations to take action and inspire their audiences and communities.
- 12 participatory commissions with arts partners nationwide that engage diverse audiences with the climate crisis.
- 4 Common Ground artist commissions, prioritising artists who identify as BAME/POC, D/deaf, disabled, neurodivergent, working class and LGBTQI+.
- A national campaign of events about climate change and the environment involving over 250 artists and arts organisations across the UK from February-November 2021.
We intended to galvanise a diverse, multidisciplinary and sustainably-produced programme that reaches over 10 million people.
Who Is Involved
Season for Change is led by Julie’s Bicycle and Artsadmin.
Artsadmin is a company of creative people working with artists to develop and make performance projects for local, national and international audiences in a variety of places and contexts. We offer a range of artist supports and a programme of public events at Toynbee Studios, our home in London’s East End. We also collaborate on national partnership projects engaging with disability-led arts and climate justice.
Julie’s Bicycle is a pioneering non-profit mobilising the arts and culture to take action on the climate and ecological crisis. Founded by the music industry in 2007 and now working across the arts and culture, JB has supported over 2000 organisations and international partnerships. Combining cultural with environmental expertise JB focuses on high impact programmes to meet the climate and ecological crisis head-on. Simply put, change culture and culture changes the world.
Background information
A pilot of Season for Change ran from 1 June until 16 December 2018, finishing to coincide with the COP24 UN Climate Negotiations in Katowice, Poland. Organisations and artists across the UK sparked conversations about the future of our planet through performances, exhibitions, talks, film screenings, workshops and events. Season for Change in 2018 was initiated from the What Next? movement in association with Battersea Arts Centre.
Support Us
If you’re interested in supporting the future of Season for Change through a donation or a partnership, please get in touch.
