Culture Declares Emergency

I discovered the influence and power of culture when I was nominated for the Europa Nostra award in the past, an experience that opened my eyes to the profound impact cultural expression can have on shaping societal values and driving change. Culture plays a crucial and multifaceted role in supporting climate change awareness by shaping societal values, influencing behavior, and fostering emotional connections with the environment. Through various forms of cultural expression—art, literature, music, theater, and more—culture can translate abstract scientific concepts into tangible, relatable narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.

Cultural practices have the power to tap into people’s emotions and moral frameworks, making the climate crisis not just an intellectual issue, but a deeply personal and moral imperative. Storytelling, for instance, can create empathy for communities affected by climate change, while visual arts can vividly illustrate the environmental damage caused by human activity, compelling people to reflect on their own impact. In addition, culture can challenge entrenched beliefs and societal norms that contribute to environmental degradation, encouraging individuals and communities to adopt more sustainable lifestyles. By incorporating indigenous knowledge systems, cultural expressions can also emphasize the wisdom of living in harmony with nature, offering alternative models for sustainable living. Beyond raising awareness, culture acts as a catalyst for collective action. Public performances, exhibitions, and cultural festivals can serve as platforms for advocacy, bringing people together to demand systemic change from policymakers and corporations. Cultural institutions like museums, libraries, and heritage sites offer spaces for dialogue and education, helping the public to better understand the historical and social dimensions of environmental issues. In this way, culture not only mirrors the urgent realities of climate change but also inspires the imagination of a future where ecological balance and human wellbeing are intertwined, creating a shared vision for sustainable living that transcends boundaries and unites communities across the globe.

In recent years, the climate crisis has emerged as not just an environmental issue but a profound cultural and societal challenge. It is in this context that Culture Declares Emergency was launched in 2019, catalyzing a movement within the cultural sector to respond to the climate emergency with creativity, urgency, and a focus on systemic change. The initiative calls upon artists, cultural institutions, and creative practitioners to use their platforms to raise awareness, advocate for climate justice, and inspire collective action. The movement, born in the UK, quickly spread across the globe and has since influenced a wide range of sectors including architecture, music, heritage, tourism, and healthcare. The premise is simple yet powerful: culture, in its myriad forms, has the ability to shape human consciousness and behavior, making it a vital force in the fight against climate change.

The Launch and Evolution of Culture Declares Emergency

The launch of Culture Declares Emergency in April 2019 was a groundbreaking moment, marking the movement as the first professional declaration of its kind. Inspired by local governments that had begun declaring climate emergencies, the founders of the movement recognized that the cultural sector holds a unique capacity to influence society’s values and aspirations. With this power, they hoped to spark a cultural shift towards sustainability and climate action. The movement’s launch was accompanied by a symbolic procession through London, guided by Lucy Neal who is the founder ‘declarer’ of the movement. The event marked the beginning of a movement that would eventually mobilize a wide range of creative sectors, including those in music, architecture, healthcare, and tourism. These sectors established their own declarations under the Culture Declares Emergency umbrella, amplifying the impact of the movement across different professional domains.

A Timeline of Key Activities

In the months following its launch, Culture Declares Emergency made significant strides in shaping public dialogue and action. An open call for Letters to the Earth invited people to express their reflections on the climate crisis, emphasizing the importance of personal narratives in raising awareness. The movement also saw hundreds gather at Camden’s Roundhouse for a major assembly. The assembly highlighted the potential for collective cultural action in confronting environmental challenges. Additionally, a Rally of the Imagination held in Trafalgar Square called on artists, thinkers, and the public to envision sustainable futures through creative expression. The publication of “Letters to the Earth: Writing to a Planet in Crisis” marked yet another important moment, cementing the movement’s engagement with the public.

Adapting to a Global Crisis

As the world grappled with the global pandemic in 2020, Culture Declares Emergency adapted to the intersecting crises of public health and climate change. The movement restructured its approach, facilitating online gatherings and launching the #CultureTakesAction campaign, which encouraged cultural institutions to take direct steps in addressing the climate emergency. By this time, the movement had surpassed 1,400 declarers, demonstrating the widespread commitment of the cultural sector to confronting environmental challenges. Culture Declares also released a powerful statement reflecting on the pandemic and the climate crisis, recognizing the interconnectedness of these global emergencies and the need for systemic change.

Maintaining Momentum in 2021

Despite the continued disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Culture Declares maintained its momentum through a range of digital actions and events. These online initiatives ensured that the movement’s message remained strong during a challenging period. Culture Declares also issued a joint statement in solidarity with campaigners protesting fossil fuel sponsorship of the Science Museum, further demonstrating the movement’s commitment to ethical funding in cultural institutions. Additionally, at COP26 in Glasgow, hundreds of Letters to the Earth were delivered to the summit, amplifying the voices of artists and activists and reinforcing the cultural sector’s role in shaping the global response to the climate emergency.

Expanding Global Reach

In 2022, the movement expanded its global reach, launching a new website and deepening its collaboration with a broad alliance of cultural initiatives. Culture Declares issued a joint statement at COP27 in Egypt, continuing its advocacy on the international stage. The movement’s focus also shifted toward exploring the roots of intersecting global crises, fostering dialogues on the role of culture in addressing both climate and social justice challenges. As new hubs were created internationally, the movement became more decentralized, encouraging creative initiatives that responded to local environmental concerns.

Reflecting and Growing in 2023

In 2023, Culture Declares entered a phase of reflection and growth. The movement began an impact assessment of its first four years, evaluating its achievements and determining how best to expand its influence. The movement also launched a series of Cultural Assemblies, including at the Southbank Centre and online, which served as spaces for collective reflection and action. These assemblies are set to continue into 2024, providing a platform for the cultural sector to engage in meaningful discussions on how to respond to the ongoing climate crisis.

What Is Culture and How It Can Help

To understand the significance of Culture Declares Emergency, it is essential to explore the concept of culture itself. Culture can be understood as the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement, the ideas and social behaviors of particular communities, the cultivation of living organisms in conditions conducive to growth, and the stewardship of natural landscapes. When viewed collectively, these definitions present culture as the sum of human activities that create conditions for life to thrive. This understanding of culture is central to Culture Declares Emergency’s vision of a Regenerative Culture, which prioritizes not just the avoidance of harm but the active restoration of ecosystems and promotion of social justice.

A Broad Cultural Vision

The cultural sector, broadly defined, encompasses a wide array of disciplines that contribute to this regenerative vision. Design—encompassing craft, architecture, eco-design, and graphic design—plays a critical role in shaping sustainable practices. Intangible heritage, including indigenous knowledge and sacred practices, offers valuable insights into sustainable living and ecological stewardship. Museums, which serve as educational hubs, provide platforms for fostering dialogue around environmental and historical issues. Heritage preservation, including the protection of historic buildings and landscapes, is essential to understanding the interconnectedness of culture and ecology. Additionally, nature-based practices such as gardening and landscape design contribute to the regeneration of ecosystems.

Culture also plays a key role in promoting mental and physical wellbeing through participatory practices like socially engaged arts, nature-based therapies, and disability arts. Creative industries, including digital technologies, media, and publishing, have a significant influence on public perception, making them vital to shaping narratives around sustainability. Learning and education, driven by teachers, researchers, and public engagement professionals, foster critical thinking and empower communities to engage meaningfully with environmental issues. Finally, the arts—spanning theater, visual arts, music, and film—serve as powerful tools for inspiring emotional connections to the planet and encouraging a sense of urgency in addressing environmental challenges.

Culture as a Catalyst for Change

In this context, culture becomes a catalyst for transformation, not just reflecting the world as it is but reimagining it as it could be. Culture Declares Emergency believes that the cultural sector holds a unique responsibility to lead by example in responding to the climate crisis. Through design, heritage preservation, the arts, and education, culture can inspire and enact the changes necessary to restore ecological balance and promote sustainability. As Marcus Aurelius wisely observed, “The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.” Through cultural expression, we have the ability to shape those thoughts and inspire collective action toward a more sustainable and just future.

Overcoming Challenges

The challenges faced by Culture Declares Emergency are significant. Cultural institutions often operate within financial constraints, and the shift to sustainable practices can require significant investment. Furthermore, the scale of the climate crisis can seem overwhelming, leading to a sense of helplessness. Despite these challenges, the movement remains hopeful, grounded in the belief that culture’s ability to inspire, provoke, and mobilize is a powerful force for change. The wisdom of Buddha, who reminds us that “Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most,” resonates deeply with the movement’s ethos. This is a call to action—a reminder that the cultural sector has a profound opportunity to act with urgency in addressing the climate crisis.

Conclusion

Since its launch in 2019, Culture Declares Emergency has demonstrated the vital role that culture can play in addressing the climate emergency. By bringing together diverse sectors of the arts, heritage, and education, the movement has shown that cultural practitioners have the power to influence public discourse, inspire action, and envision a more sustainable world. As the movement continues to grow, its message is clear: culture is not only a reflection of our world but a driver of change. Through creativity, collaboration, and a deep commitment to justice, Culture Declares Emergency is helping to shape a future in which humanity and the planet can thrive together. In the words of Shakespeare, “One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” It is through this kinship, fostered by culture, that we can hope to overcome the challenges of our time and build a regenerative future for all.