What’s the big idea?
It’s time to amplify youth voices. About the Climate Crisis. Because it impacts the youth generation most. Today. Tomorrow. And every day in the Future. Any youth K-12 is invited to submit an art piece on our two themes:
-
- HERE & NOW: Paint the current state of things – the status quo
-
- THE FUTURE: Paint the beautiful tomorrow – when nature wins
There are two paths ahead of us.
Which one will you paint?
Which one will WE choose?
What does the vision look like in action?
This seed is being planted so it can grow into a global youth art climate challenge. Anyone K – 12 is invited to submit an art piece, and to use this platform as a resource hub for youth climate action and systems change. What’s on the horizon?
-
- An Open Call to youth artists to submit an art piece and for art museums worldwide to become a partner!
- Inspired by the AIDS memorial quilt, this project will evolve into a traveling museum exhibit at art museums, children’s museums and schools – with an integrated educational curriculum.
- The youth art climate challenge activates hearts and minds towards climate action, while offering real resources to take action and galvanize youth worldwide.
It’s time for the most important generation on earth to unite and ally around tackling the greatest cause of our time, climate change.
Why systems change?
Systems change is an approach to tackling complex problems by addressing their root causes, not just their symptoms. We know current societal systems have shredded the natural world (air, land, and sea, and all species). We know we want that to change. Knowing what systems need to change from energy to food, manufacturing, lifestyle, governance, our relationship to the non-human world, etc.- is a start. Big picture, systems change aims to transform the underlying structures, customs, mindsets, power dynamics, and policies that perpetuate a problem, creating a lasting positive impact. This involves shifting how a system functions, its relationships, and the outcomes it produces. Getting to 100% renewable energy is a systems change. Getting an entire generation of young people to love the natural world and unite worldwide to fight climate change, is exactly what systems change is all about.
Systems change requires collaboration among diverse stakeholders – individuals, organizations, governments, etc. – who share a common goal. This collaboration can involve shifting mindsets, altering power dynamics, and strengthening relationships within the system, according to Catalyst Now. Systems change recognizes that issues are interconnected and that changes in one part of a system can impact others. It’s a continuous process of learning, adapting, and innovating to navigate the complexities of systems and achieve desired outcomes. This is precisely why bringing art and beauty into the process, especially with young people, is an ideal way to advance one’s understanding of systems change and change these systems collectively.
Why Youth? Why Art? And Why Museums?
Why Kids? If we don’t catch kids’ hearts and minds and fill them with deep love of nature, before they get sucked in by a screen, we don’t stand a chance.
Why Art? Because every society, culture and community everywhere on earth going back to the dawn of time has used art to respond to every aspect of their lives.
Why Museums? Since their inception, museums the world over have played a key role as living hubs communing folks around history, culture, dialogue, and civic action.
Who is weaving this Climate Quilt?
Danielle Lanyard is the co-founder of the Regenerative Technology Project and founder of big deep digital, a boutique tech firm serving mission-driven ventures. Her career spans impact, sustainability, technology and storytelling. Her path includes creating Laos’ first Sustainable Development college course, serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in environmental education in Senegal, and working as Development Director for the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin. She founded the startup Green Breakfast Club to grow the green startup ecosystem. When unexpected health issues arose, this startup was tabled and her tech career was born. But working in tech was not enough; the tiny voice in her heart kept whispering for a return to her true calling: deep ecology and climate action. She set out to converge tech and climate action into a new chapter. She co-founded the Regenerative Technology Project, became a principal at Foundation Earth, and is now weaving this new Climate Quilt project. Because there is no planet B.
Partners
“The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe” – James Baldwin