"We come together - not because we are told to, but because we want to"

Thanks for taking some time to speak to us!

How can the Arts & Culture play a key role in continuing to shift the conversation around climate from awareness to action? Why is it so important for people and audiences to be involved?

Savita:
Finding our way out of the climate and ecological emergency starts in our imagination. We need to be able to dream of a future and a world that works quite differently than it does now. We need to find brave ways to spark conversations about what really matters to us and how the current state of the world is affecting us as well as the people and places we love. We need to picture ourselves having a different relationship with, for example, materials, energy, green spaces. Arts & Culture is where we come for stories, to help us visualise a different future, to hear someone else voice the words we might be ready to say to a politician, an industry leader, our neighbours or the media. Audiences are made up of consumers, voters, landowners, parents, workers in every industry, neighbours in every part of the city. Being involved is how we create change. 

Nancy: 
Art can stir our emotions, shifts our perspectives, and ignite action. In times of crisis, it allows us to connect with issues on a deeply personal level, helping us see the human stories behind the headlines. By making the climate crisis relatable, art fosters empathy and encourages us to move beyond awareness into collective action. Stories have the unique ability to move us in ways that data and facts alone cannot.

We can all play a role in shaping the future, and by imagining, discussing, and challenging what it could look like, we find hope and resilience in the process. Cultural spaces create environments for collective reflection, where creativity helps us envision possible worlds and turn those visions into action.

Theatre, in particular, creates a shared, communal experience that transcends individual observation. It invites us to engage, to reflect, and to find ourselves in the story. When we engage collectively, we shift from passive spectators to empowered participants, transforming our shared visions into real-world action. Through art, we see not just what is, but what could be—and we’re invited to be the change, together.

How do you see the relationship between creativity and environmental action evolving in the coming years? What potential do you see in collaborations, such as the one between Bristol Old Vic and the Festival of Nature, to create a more sustainable and resilient future?

Savita:
Environmental issues have moved from the niche to the mainstream, and are firmly embedded in our culture. Environmental organisations and cultural organisations are already overlapping our audiences, and many of our concerns, but bring such different expertise to the table. Thoughtful, equitable and deliberate partnerships are the basis for creating real change together. It’s so Bristol, isn’t it? We come together - not because we are told to, but because we want to. Time and time again Bristol shows up with environmental leadership in unexpected ways.

Nancy:
Just as ecosystems in nature are interdependent, our society relies on complex systems—economic, social, and environmental—that are deeply linked. Creativity acts as a bridge, helping us translate these complex systems into inspiring narratives and actions. In the coming years, I see the role of art and creativity expanding to help us reimagine these systems, not just in theory but in practice, nurturing sustainable, resilient communities.

To understand these interconnections and address the climate emergency, we can’t do it alone: Collaborations between art and environmental action are essential for creating new dialogues. By bringing together the arts and environmental advocacy, we create a space for collective reflection and shared action. These collaborations amplify the voices of artists, scientists, and activists, forging stronger connections between local communities and the global movement for climate justice and sustainability.

These collaborations also help us reach broader audiences, sparking conversations that transcend traditional boundaries in unexpected ways. They create spaces where people from all walks of life can connect with environmental issues on a personal level, encouraging collective action that is accessible, engaging, and inspiring.