Energy Prices & The Climate Crisis: Making the connections and making an impact

By Oxford Friends of The Earth, curated by Green Arts Oxfordshire Network

5th – 18th November 2022

An exhibition about saving energy is one of the latest to pop up in Friars Entry near Gloucester Green, where windows have been transformed into galleries by Fusion Arts. Energy Prices & The Climate Crisis: Making the connections and making an impact is an exhibition of 8 posters about the intersection between the energy crisis and the climate crisis. The posters share useful information about what changes the government needs to make, and how to save energy at home.

Created by Oxford Friends of the Earth for Oxfordshire Great Big Green Week, and curated by Green Arts Oxfordshire Network, the pop up is one of a growing number of cultural events and exhibitions addressing the climate crisis. The exhibition calls for the government to lead and fund the transition to clean and cheap energy in the UK. Governments have been accused of falling woefully short of the Paris Climate pledges, as analysis shows that the world is on track for a catastrophic 3C temperature increase if present trends continue. Energy production causes around two thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions, whilst the cost-of-living crisis is driving millions into fuel poverty. Energy Prices & The Climate Crisis explores how cutting our energy use and transitioning can help us to address both crises. 

For tips and advice on quick and easy ways to save energy, lower your bills and reduce your carbon footprint, visit: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/hub/quick-tips-to-save-energy
To learn more about Oxford Friends of the Earth, visit: https://www.oxfoe.co.uk/

Lighting The Way

By Julia Mallaby & Green Arts Oxfordshire Network

5th – 18th November 2022

Lighting The Way is a new exhibition of community made artwork popping-up in the Fusion Arts window galleries along Friar’s Entry near Gloucester Green. As part of Oxfordshire Great Big Green Week in September, Green Arts Oxfordshire Network collaborated with artist Julia Mallaby to hold creative workshops about the energy crisis. The cyanotype printed banners exhibited were made by Julia and members of the local community at free workshops in Barton and Botley, at Beautiful Barton Bash and St Frideswide’s Church Climate Day.

Cyanotype printing is one of the earliest forms of photography, exposing coated paper or fabric to sunlight to create blue negative prints. The banners explore how people feel about the energy crisis, and imagine a future built on renewable energy, like solar, wind and hydropower.

The UK Government is planning to ban solar farms from most of England’s farmland, yet in a recent poll 75% of the public said that they support solar power being installed on farmland. Lighting The Way expresses the public support for a transition away from fossil fuels, celebrating the sustainable energy solutions that we already have.

To learn we can meet our energy needs in a way that’s good for people and good for the planet, visit www.lowcarbonhub.org

To see more artwork by Julia Mallaby, visit www.juliamallaby.com

Oxfordshire Great Big Green Week: What’s Next?

Oxfordshire Great Big Green Week 2022 saw over 100 community organised events across the county, including festivals, film screenings, exhibitions, talks, workshops and much more.

For 9 days, Oxfordshire celebrated community action to tackle climate change and protect nature. So what’s next?

If you hosted an event or would be interested in getting involved in 2023, join this informal conversation where we’ll chat about what went well, what we learned and what’s next for Great Big Green Week.

10th -18th June have been announced as the dates for 2023! Come along to have your say in co-producing as a creative climate conscious community.

This event is co-hosted Green Arts Oxfordshire Network and the Tandem Collective.

About Green Arts Oxfordshire Network:

Green Arts Oxfordshire Network unites Oxfordshire’s artists and cultural organisations in their work to tackle the climate & ecological emergency.

About the Tandem Collective:

Tandem Collective’s mission is to influence positive change towards social justice and environmental sustainability through arts and creativity.

Green Arts Action: Sustainability & Print Workshop with Seacourt

Let’s talk about the problem with print. It’s a traditionally wasteful and unsustainable sector, but theaters, galleries, museums, musicians and artists alike rely on print to market our work.

Join Green Arts Oxfordshire Network and award winning B Corp printer Seacourt to explore sustainable printing solutions for all things arts and culture, from outdoor banners to exhibition materials.

Local to Oxford, Seacourt is a pioneering printing company that puts the planet first. In this free workshop, they’ll share their sustainability journey – inventing Planet Positive Printing, proving zero waste to landfill is possible and becoming the highest scoring B Corp printer in the world.

Discuss the barriers to sustainable marketing that you encounter with other Oxfordshire based arts and culture groups, and lead the transition to Planet Positive Printing.

About Seacourt:

Putting the print in zero-carbon footprint, Seacourt delivers award-winning commercial printing without the water, carbon and waste.

The Angry Garden – Film Screening

The Angry Garden Film Competition called for people to make a short film (between 1 and 15 minutes) about the climate emergency over the Summer.

The presentation evening will feature the six short-listed films and the announcement of the winner. There will also be a short talk by the composer, discussing his inspiration for the piece.

The Angry Garden for choir and orchestra was first performed in 2002 and recorded in 2019 by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the City of London Choir, conducted by Hilary Davan Wetton.