Source: Peatix

The nonprofit organization Arts Initiative Tokyo (AIT) will hold a symposium on the climate crisis and art, "Art Takes Action for the Climate Crisis," at Hillside Plaza (Daikanyama) on Saturday, July 27th.

In recent years, the climate crisis and biodiversity loss have become increasingly serious and are having a major impact on people's lives. In light of this, what actions should we in the arts sector take now?

The global carbon dioxide emissions from the arts sector are estimated at around 70 million tonnes (slightly more than Singapore's annual carbon dioxide emissions), a figure that is relatively small compared to industrial sectors such as aviation, agriculture and construction. However, there is an urgent need for the arts sector to take concrete action to help mitigate the devastating effects of the climate crisis.
In addition, one of the important roles that art plays is to raise people's environmental awareness through works of art and expression, and to generate collaboration among people across fields.

Through keynote speeches and panel discussions by climate scientists and art professionals, this symposium aims to inspire all those involved in the arts, including artists, museums, galleries, and art spaces, to become practitioners in addressing the climate crisis.

On the day, we will introduce the latest trends and data on climate crisis actions not only in Japan but also overseas, share issues and questions with the participants, and think together about the future of the arts sector. Most importantly, we will not limit ourselves to discussion, but encourage each of us to change our awareness and achieve decarbonization to the extent that we can in our daily activities.

*On the same day, we will be releasing a Japanese translation of the 62-page English document, “Action Plan for Galleries and the Art Sector to Decarbonize,” by the London-based Gallery Climate Coalition (GCC).

Date and time: Saturday, July 27, 2024, 13:00-17:00 (doors open at 12:30)
Venue: Hillside Plaza Hall (Daikanyama, Shibuya-ku)
〒150-0033 29-10 Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Hillside Terrace
Capacity: 120 people
Participation fee: Free (reservation required, free entry and exit)
Language: Japanese

Organized by NPO Arts Initiative Tokyo [AIT]
Special Grant: Ishibashi Foundation

Speakers (in no particular order, titles omitted)

Keynote speech: Current state of the climate crisis in Japan and the path to zero carbon
Tsunehide Kayano (Associate Professor, Faculty of Humanities, Shinshu University)

The latest trends in climate crisis action in the global art world
Roger McDonald (Program Director of AIT TOTAL ARTS STUDIES / Director of Tatsue Folk Crafts Museum)

Panel discussion (presentations by each speaker + discussion)
Kunihiko Aizawa (Special Advisor/Conservator, Fine Art Logistics Sales and Operations Division, Global Business Strategy Department, Yamato Transport Co., Ltd.)
Kataoka Mami (Director of Mori Art Museum/Director of National Art Research Center)
Yutaka Kikutake (Representative of Yutaka Kikutake Gallery)
Meruro Washida (Director of Towada Art Center / Associate Professor at Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School)

performance
Erika Kobayashi (Writer/Artist)

Moderator
Yuko Shiomi, Naoko Horiuchi (AIT)

▶️Click here for a brief profile of each guest (AIT event page)
https://www.a-i-t.net/events/18220

Venue