Published: 31 Aug 2021
In collaboration with partners from around the globe, Museum Galleries Scotland (MGS) is pleased to launch the Culture at COP website with the Climate Heritage Network and Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
This is a significant year in tackling the climate emergency as currently the world is on course to miss the targets needed to keep global warming below the limits set in the Paris Agreement. Urgent action is needed, and it requires global solutions and everyone to play their part. The arts, culture and heritage sector play a key role in achieving a climate resilient world.
Culture at COP is an international events website that aims to showcase all COP26 - related art, culture and heritage events (in-person and virtual). The website will support those involved in tackling the climate emergency to engage with wider audiences and showcase their events in the lead up to the crucial COP26, taking place in November at Glasgow.
All culture, arts and heritage organisations are invited to register their climate events on the Culture at COP website. Access the website and submit climate related art, culture and heritage events at cultureatcop.com.
Lucy Casot, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland said:
“There is immense power in the arts, culture and heritage sector to drive climate action, and support just transitions by communities towards low carbon and climate resilient pathways. These sectors have a key role in enhancing the understanding within communities about climate change and the urgency of climate action.
As part of our role in responding to the climate emergency we are pleased to have worked with international partners to create the Culture at COP website. It will highlight culture-based activities that will bring people together to take climate action.”
Ewan Hyslop, Head of Technical Research and Science at HES, and Europe Co-Chair of the Climate Heritage Network, said:
“In this crucial year for climate action, we want to demonstrate the key role our cultural heritage has to play in tackling the climate emergency and supporting the goals of COP26.
“We want to harness the power of our cultural heritage to tell our climate story, engaging people with climate issues in a meaningful way and encouraging and inspiring positive and sustainable behaviour change.
“We’re delighted to support the development of the Culture at the COP website which will provide an important platform to do this, bringing together organisations from across the arts, culture and heritage sectors and showcasing the fantastic range of events and activities that will be taking place throughout the runup and duration of the COP.”
Partners on the Culture at COP website include the California Office of Historic Preservation, the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation, Creative Carbon Scotland, Historical Environment Scotland, Icon, the International Council of Monuments and Sites and Julie’s Bicycle. Together we believe this website can help bring people together to share the events and ideas we need to transition to an environmentally sustainable future and communicate the ambition, relevance and influence of culture and heritage to tackling climate change.
Museums Galleries Scotland is the National Development Body for museums and galleries in Scotland and offers strategic development support to the sector. For further information about Museums Galleries Scotland visit www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/about-us/
In 2020 Museums Galleries Scotland set ‘respond to the climate emergency’ as an organisational area of specific strategic focus. MGS is supporting climate action in the heritage sector in a variety of ways. As a partner on the Culture at COP website and the Climate Beacons Project, by investing resource for the sector with the appointment of a Climate Officer, and in supporting additional activity around COP26 itself.
Contact: Alex Smith – Climate Officer – alexsmuseumgalleriesscotland.org.uk - 0131 550 4199
The Climate Heritage Network is a voluntary, mutual support network of arts, culture and heritage organisations committed to aiding their communities in tackling climate change and achieving the ambitions of the Paris Agreement.
Network members include:
For further information visit https://climateheritage.org/
