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
Tupua Tigafua with David Long
Ciggy Butts in the Sand
Louise Potiki-Bryant with Dr Daniel Hikuroa, Dr Mike Joy & other artists
Te Taki o te Ua/The Sound of Rain
Dr Vicki Kerr with other scientists & artists
Airways
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
Tupua Tigafua with David Long
Ciggy Butts in the Sand
Michaela Keeble & the Whakaruruhau Collective
Louise Potiki-Bryant with Dr Daniel Hikuroa, Dr Mike Joy & other artists
Te Taki o te Ua/The Sound of Rain
Tola Newbery with other artists & scientists
Toi Āmai: Papa
Gabby O’Connor & Dr Renee Liang
Pilot: My Body, My Place, My World
Dr Vicki Kerr with other scientists & artists
Airways
Chris Adams with Michaela Keeble & Dr Jenny Rock
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)
NEWS
Tupua Tigafua wins Excellence Award for Choreography and Movement
at The Wellington Theatre Awards 2021 on Sunday for Ciggy Butts in the Sand
Read the review on Theatre review
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
PAST EVENTS
Airways
Airways (2021) pilot installation. Visit the Ramp Gallery, Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton, 19 – 23 July 2021.
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.
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.
