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)