To commemorate the UN Climate Change Conference taking place in Glasgow and raise awareness of rising sea levels, a mural is being painted on our Production Studios by celebrated Mexican artist and activist, Gustavo Chavez Pavon (pictured).
Work began this week on the mural which will become a permanent feature on the front wall of our Edington Street building when complete. Spearheaded by Rights: Community: Action, an organisation dedicated to tackling the climate emergency, the mural is part of part of The Shorelines Project, a Hull-wide art activism project consisting of a series of installations aiming to highlight the impact climate change will have on cities if nothing is done to prevent flooding. It is being delivered by Hull-based company DA Creative Studios, which worked with us and Carnival Arts Yard on choosing the mural location.
Scottish Opera General Director, Alex Reedijk said: ‘We are delighted to host this mural to help bring a deeper focus on the climate issues we are all facing. We are also one of over 170 cultural organisations in Scotland to have signed up to The Green Arts Initiative as part of our long term commitment to reducing our environmental impact.’
DA Creative Studios CEO and Creative Director, Calvin Innes said: ‘We're pleased to be able to bring The Shorelines Project to Glasgow to coincide with COP26. Using art to convey difficult messages and encourage difficult discussions is at the heart of the project. Having the opportunity to take the project from Hull to Glasgow and continue the discussion during this important event allows us to engage with an even larger, engaged and passionate audience.’
Naomi Luhde-Thompson, chief executive at Rights: Community: Action added: ‘Climate change is happening. Through art, we can connect with communities about the climate risks that we face and the radical changes that we must make. We must take radical action now to curb emissions and help those most at risk from the impacts. We are all on a journey, and creating art together gives us all a much-needed voice.’
The Shorelines team are also doing a talk at the COP26 People’s Summit for Climate Justice, on Sunday 7 November, from 2-3.30pm at Glasgow’s Adelaide Place Baptist Church. Naomi Luhde-Thompson and Alex Goodwin from Rights Community Action will speak, and as part of the event Calvin and Gustavo will also create a mural live on stage.
More information and tickets are available here.
We will reveal the finished mural next week on our social media!