Turning the Tide: Bridging Art and Climate Action in a Transformative Residency Event

On November 28th, Intercult hosted the final event of the second local residency of the European project Turning the Tide. The gathering brought together artists, climate experts, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore how art can inspire environmental awareness and action. The event, titled A Bridge Between Worlds, highlighted the role of socially engaged art in addressing the urgent challenges of climate change and environmental degradation.

Art as a Catalyst for Climate Awareness

The event opened with a welcome address from Iwona Preis, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling environmental issues. The program aimed to demonstrate how creative practices can break down barriers, foster dialogue, and offer new perspectives on sustainability.

Bubbelhoppa and Inner Development Goals

The first presentation was delivered by Emma Stenström, Associate Professor at the Stockholm School of Economics and a prominent advocate for social and existential sustainability. Stenström introduced the Inner Development Goals (IDG), an open-source initiative designed to cultivate the inner skills necessary for a sustainable future. She also presented her method Bubbelhoppa (Bubble-Hopping), which encourages individuals to step outside their familiar social and professional circles to connect with others, broaden their perspectives, and foster mutual growth.

This approach, detailed in her book Bubbelhoppa, emphasizes empathy and collaboration as key tools for addressing complex global challenges, including climate change.

Art and Activism: Jätterena Mälaren by Ludmila Christeseva

Belarusian artist and activist Ludmila Christeseva followed with a presentation of her project Jätterena Mälaren (Superclean Mälaren), which investigates water pollution in Sweden’s lakes. Drawing inspiration from local divers who clean the lakes, Christeseva’s work combines art and activism to raise awareness about environmental degradation.

Christeseva shared goodie bags containing plastic construction materials, inviting attendees to create their own imaginary fish sculptures. This interactive activity highlighted the pervasive presence of plastic pollution and encouraged participants to engage creatively with the issue. She also screened a provocative and satirical video in which she prepares a fish soup using waste collected from the lake. The video, both mocking and thought-provoking, underscores the alarming reality of environmental pollution while challenging viewers to reflect on the future of Sweden’s waterways. Will future generations be able to fish and swim in clean lakes, or will waste define their natural environment?

Watch Ludmila’s video here:

Hope in Motion: A Circus for Change

The final presentation, Hope in Motion, was led by multidisciplinary circus artist and researcher Marie-Andrée Robitaille. Drawing on her expertise in performative and media arts, Robitaille shared insights from her ongoing projects Semaphore Dialogues: Signals of Change and Hope in Motion: A Circus Choreographic Study on the Primacy of Motion. Her research explores the potential of circus arts to drive leadership development and social change through movement and kinetic expression.

Robitaille’s presentation culminated in an outdoor performance at Intercult’s yard, where participants, carrying golden flags, staged a symbolic protest for hope. This collective action represented resilience and optimism in the face of environmental challenges. The event concluded with a communal message placed in the Bucket of Hope, symbolizing the shared commitment to building a sustainable future.

A Platform for Dialogue and Collaboration

Turning the Tide aims to create unique spaces for dialogue and collaboration across disciplines. By bringing together voices from the arts, academia, and environmental sectors, the project highlights the transformative power of art in addressing the climate crisis.

This event marked another step in the ongoing effort to integrate artistic expression into environmental advocacy. Through projects like Turning the Tide, artists and activists continue to inspire action, provoke thought, and foster a deeper connection between people and the planet.