Creating inspirational, positive visions for a sustainable future – rather than apocalyptic depictions – is needed to win the hearts and minds of the public. In this workshop, academics and practitioners in the arts, literature and literary studies, social sciences and other disciplines will investigate ways of making sustainability central to creative endeavours.
How should literature, art, film and other creative media respond to the growing environmental crisis? How can they best assist the dual project of mitigating the threats we face and fashioning a more sustainable future? The poet William Blake proposes that before we can build such a future we must first imagine it. What is the nature and role of imagination and creativity in this context? What new imaginings do we need to inspire individuals, businesses and governments to take meaningful action against climate change and other environmental challenges? What work can be done in this regard by established artistic forms and literary genres, and where is there perhaps a need to develop more radically innovative, experimental forms and genres? And what lessons and potential strategies for communicating and promoting sustainability do creative engagements with this theme offer those working in other sectors such as education, conservation, heritage, science and technology? Can the arts and creative practices create democratic spaces for imagining sustainable futures and diversifying mainstream visions?
The 1½ day interdisciplinary workshop Sustainability, Imagination and Aesthetics (26-27 June 2024) will explore these issues, bringing together scholars, literary and artistic practitioners, filmmakers, activists and others so as to share insights and innovations and develop a pluralistic understanding of how literature, art and the creative sector more broadly might best speak to the environmental emergency.
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Dr Sanna Lehtinen, Aalto University (Finland)
Dr Sacha Kagan, Leuphana and Hildesheim Universities (Germany)
James T. Jones, University of Waterloo (Canada)
Jon Norman Mason, University of Brighton (UK)
Chris Medland, University of Surrey (UK)
Prof Mary Anne Kernan, City, University of London (UK)
Dr Tiziana Tamborrini, GAIALUX (Luxembourg)
Megan Cumming, University of Swansea (UK)
Rebecca Edgerley, University of Exeter (UK)
Hannah Woodliffe and Tilly Maginnis, H and T Creative
Alex Holland, Solarpunk Stories
Trish Kiy, XRDRR
Dr Dimitris Asimakoulas, University of Surrey (UK)
Associate Prof John Charles Ryan, Southern Cross University, (Australia) & Francis Joy, University of Lapland (Finland)
Kethaki Wijesinghe, University of Brighton (UK)
Dr Raewyn Martyn, Ilam School of Fine Arts, University of Canterbury (New Zealand)
Dr Chloe Germaine and Paul Wake, Manchester Metropolitan University (UK)
ORGANISERS
Sustainability, Imagination and Aesthetics is organised by the Sustainability, Creativity and Communication research group within Surrey University’s Institute for Sustainability.
Image adapted from Self-Made by Radostina Georgieva © and ‘Planet Earth’ by Elena Mozhvilo ©