What if Climate Change was Purple?

Three new art projects ready for audiences

Update: June 2021

By mid-2021, three new climate-related projects will be ready for public viewing following a second phase of research and development supported by Track Zero seed funding.

Spanning live performance, music, video and an immersive installation, all new works of art weave storytelling and science to elevate understanding of the climate crisis and actions to create a better future. Congratulations to the creative teams behind these inspiring new works and to all participants in the project.

Stage two grant recipients

Seven new art projects in development

Update: October 2020

By mid-2020, over two application rounds, seven new climate-related projects have received seed funding from Track Zero totalling $40,000 and are now in the first phase of research and development.

A poetic dance work about the love and loss of our connection with nature and the role of trees in tackling climate change, an immersive installation that is triggered by audience members to aid in learning about the climate impacts of flying, an orchestral piece that gives endangered native birds and habitats a voice, and a Māori theatre work that highlights our responsibility to protect Papatūānuku are just some of the selected projects.

Due to the changing environment under COVID-19 and strict social distancing rules, initial research and development of these works had to be adapted to continue online. We congratulate the collaborators for their passion and perseverance over this unprecedented time . We thank all participants in the project for their ongoing input and especially acknowledge those who were unable to submit applications due to new commitments under COVID-19.

Stage one grant recipients

About the project

Ever wondered if you could feel and not just know about climate change and the science behind it, that you would be deeply moved to do more about it? We did too.

What if Climate Change was Purple? is an exciting collaborative project that brings together a diverse group of selected artists & scientists into an environment that allows them to share their knowledge and to research ideas to create powerful new art works that inspire climate action.

The project is delivered with support from both Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington professor James Renwick, using part of the money he received as recipient of the Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize 2018, and the University. Initially running from in August 2019 to May 2021, the project has been extended to July 2021 due to COVID-19.

Our hope is that by bringing a selection of artists & scientists together all, or some, of them will come out of an initial workshop in November 2019 with project ideas for climate-related art works they continue to develop and execute over a series of stages, building towards a public showing of work-in-development in 2021.

The science tells us that every tenth of a degree of warming adds to the risks that undermine our way of life. To halt the warming at no more than 1.5°C we must halve global emissions of carbon dioxide by 2030, and get to zero by 2050.

But we can come together to make a difference and create a better world by drawing on all kinds of skills and knowledge, artistic, scientific, mātauranga Māori and that founded in culture and personal experience.

What if Climate Change was Purple? aims to inspire New Zealanders to find imaginative solutions and change behaviour now to help the world limit climate warming to 1.5C degrees. Acting together – we can make a big difference.

Art and science collaborations

We are delighted to announce the artists and scientists who have been selected to join What if Climate Change was Purple? The group includes both established and emergent artists and scientists as well as artist collectives representing a diverse range of disciplines across New Zealand.

We would like to thank everyone who made an application. The Assessors were extremely impressed by the large number of applications received and their high calibre across all disciplines, making the final selection an exciting, but very tough process. The art and science collaborators are:

Artists

Chris Adams
Denise Batchelor
Julia Croft
David Green
Michaela Keeble
Dr Vicki Kerr
David Long
Renee Liang
Tola Newbery
Gabby O’Connor
Jason O’Hara
Louise Pōtiki Bryant
Noma Sio-Faiumu & Matthew Faiumu Salapu – 37 Hz
Tupua Tigafua
The New Zealand Dance Company and The Conch

Scientists

Olivia Adamson
Dr Anne-Gaelle Ausseil
Natalia Bullon
Dr Daniel Collins
Andrew Douglas-Clifford
Dr Rachel Hale
Dr Daniel Hikuroa
Dr Mike Joy
Dr Natalie Robinson
Dr Jenny Rock
Dr Craig Stevens
Dr Adele Williamson

Key dates

Open call for applications launch: Wednesday, 28th August 2019
Call for applications close: Friday, 4th October 2019, at 5pm
Selection notification: Monday, 21st October 2019
What if Climate Change was Purple? Workshop: Thurs 28th November 9.30am – 5.00pm and Friday 29th November 2019 9.00am – 1.00pm, hosted in Wellington
In-house showing of art works in early development: from mid-2020
Public showing of art works in development: early 2021 (dates may change due to the changing environment of COVID-19)

UPCOMING EVENTS

Oro

Oro: an exhibition by Louise Potiki Bryant on until 19 September 2021, Brookfields Gallery, Whakatane. Read more…

Airways

Airways (2021) pilot installation. Visit the Ramp Gallery, Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton, 19 – 23 July 2021.

NEWS

Arts + Climate Innovation: Can Storytelling Inspire Change?

Sunday, 18 July 2021. 2.00 – 3.15pm. Soundings Theatre, Te Papa

View the recording of the Panel discussion.

Ciggy Butts in the Sand Review

Read the review of the show on Theatre review

Track Zero funds seven new climate change projects

5 August 2020

Learn about some of the projects involving alumnae from the University in an article by Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. Read more

Prof. James Renwick interviewed by Capital Magazine

Date

He talks to Annie Keig about his plan to turn science communication to climate action. Read more

What if climate change was purple?

by James Renwick

James Renwick explains why he’s investing prize money from a PM’s science award into bringing artists and scientists together, and how you can be part of it. Read more

Artists and scientists unite to ramp up climate response

Tuesday, 12 November 2019, 1:35 pm
Press Release: Track Zero

Artists and scientists unite to ramp up climate response.

Storytelling, not just statistics, is vital to how we connect with people to ignite our cultural response to the climate crisis. Read more

Project details

What if Climate Change was Purple?

A multi-year project running from August 2019 to mid-2021, in a series of stages.

Stage One
Launching in August 2019, artists & scientists are encouraged to apply for the project through an open call for applications. Both individuals and artist collectives/scientific teams may apply. One place is held for emergent artists and early career scientists, subject to meeting the application criteria. An expert panel of scientists and artists will adjudicate the selection.

Stage Two
Up to 12 artists and 12 scientists across a wide range of specialisations will be selected to come together for a one and a half day workshop with the view to collaborating to create an original climate-related art work that is exciting and accessible to the public. The resulting artworks will bring communities together to celebrate nature, speak up for the climate crisis and inspire urgent climate action.

Stage Three
The What if Climate Change was Purple? Workshop will be held on Thursday 28th November and Friday 29th November 2019, hosted in Wellington. Participants will bring a wide range of art & science specialisations and knowledge. From marine biology to digital installations and mural art to sea level rise and forests to opera and dance.

The workshop is an opportunity to learn more and seed ideas about:

Traditional knowledge and the physical and social sciences relating to climate change and communication;
inter-disciplinary collaborations;
artistic insights, and;
innovations New Zealand will need to adapt and meet its emission reductions.

The workshop will include talks, round table discussions, speed dating and at the end the artists & scientists will decide if they wish to team up to create collaborations in response to the climate crisis for the public to engage with. Our hope is that by bringing a selection of artists & scientists together all, or some, of them will come out of the workshop with project ideas they continue to develop and execute.

Stage Four
Track Zero will run two rounds of applications for Stage One seed funding evaluated by an expert panel of scientists and artists. A period of research and development will take place between the successful artist(s) and the scientist(s). An in-house, early development showing of these potential new works drawn from the workshops and the resulting collaborations will take place from mid-2020.

Stage Five
Some works from this initial showing will qualify for Stage Two seed funding and carry on to be further developed for a work-in-development public showing in early 2021 (dates may change due to COVID-19). Track Zero will continue to support the development of these works by helping with external funding applications, connecting them with other artists and scientists that have relevant expertise, and where possible, partnering to provide public platforms to show the works in development through to completion.

What is provided?

The project will provide:

Some funding to support artist’s participation in the What if Climate Change was Purple? Workshop to assist with any travel, accommodation or daily living costs, as required. We encourage those artists & scientists who have access to institutional backing to use it, otherwise we will consider funding to support participation.
Some seed funding towards the period of research and development between the artist(s) and the scientist(s) targeting the early development of the artworks.
Some seed funding towards further development of works that go through the initial in-house showing and on to a public showing of work-in-development in Wellington in early 2021.
It is expected that both artists & scientists actively apply for additional funding, supported by Track Zero, to enable the work to be supported in early development, and to go from the early research and development stage to the work-in-development public showing in early 2021.

Call for applications

Call for Applications – Guidelines and Form

To apply please complete the online Application Form.

We welcome entries from Aotearoa New Zealand residents aged 17 years and older.

Enter by yourself, or as an artists’ collective or a team of scientists.

Call for applications open: Wednesday, 28th August 2019
Call for applications close: Friday, 4th October 2019, at 5pm
Selection notification: Monday, 21st October 2019

What are we looking for?

Artists & scientists passionate about finding different ways to communicate the science behind climate change and the climate crisis that resonate with people.
Artists & scientists who may have a project in mind or want to come fresh to the workshop.
Artists & scientists who want to collaborate and learn from each other.
Artists & scientists from all specialisations. For instance the physical, social and indigenous sciences.
Artists who create quality works that communicate with people. These projects can be in any art form, for different audiences, involve communities in the participation, be indoors or outdoors, and a host of other things – but all should inspire change.

Selection criteria

All applications will be judged by an expert panel of scientists & artists and members of the Track Zero Board on their:

stage of career (emergent/mid-career or established);
history of work quality;
likely inspirational impact;
ability to collaborate with others and work across disciplines;
successful history in applying for funding.

Guidelines for entry