The climate crisis demands urgent action and new ways of engaging with the world. Creating a Climate for Change in Limerick highlighted the power of dance to reimagine climate conversations through movement, image, and sound. Through movement, participants cultivated a sense of connection with their environment, fostering awareness and respect for nature…the collaboration has shaped a model for advancing change, one step at a time. – Mary Wycherley, Director, Dance Limerick.
Gallery
Images 1-9 by Maurice Gunning, image 10 by Vlada Afanasievska, images 11-12 by project team.
Overview
Creating a Climate for Change in Limerick was an artist and community-led project that ran from January – November 2024. The project aimed to use dance, visual art, and audio description as creative methods for climate engagement. The project sought to bridge the gap between climate research and public participation, making complex environmental issues more accessible. The artist and research team worked with three Limerick communities to promote climate literacy, behavioral change, and encourage just sustainability transitions.
Through regular workshops, residencies, and community events throughout 2024, participants explored climate themes in an embodied way, gaining new perspectives on their connection to nature and their role in climate action. The project culminated in a series of sharing events at Dance Limerick and Limerick City Gallery of Art in November 2024 and revealed valuable insights on how the dance and the arts can be a powerful tool for climate engagement.
Team
The project was led by Dance Limerick’s DL Bridge artist Katy Hewison, alongside an interdisciplinary team including Ciara Moynihan (climate researcher), Gülfem Cevheribucak (climate research co-ordinator), Roberta Ceginskaite (dance artist) Vanessa Grasse (dance/multidisciplinary artist), Mike O’Brien (visual artist), Claire Keating (dance artist), Sophie Hutchinson (dance artist), Emer Casey (project communications & support) and a wider team of creative practitioners, community partners, and access facilitators.
Communities
The project engaged with three key community groups:
– Moyross community: Older adults, with a focus on local knowledge, biodiversity, and connection to nature.
– Croom community: Rural participants exploring themes of water, landscape, and intergenerational climate knowledge.
– Dance Limerick community: A city-based, interest-led group using dance as a method for climate engagement.
Access & Accessible Formats
Participants with additional needs or care responsibilities were encouraged to join the project, and their attendance was supported by resources such as support staff, ISL interpreatation and relaxed performances.
Through community input and collaboration with the team in the creative process, accessible formats were divised as a method of understanding:
Audio Recording – Audio recordings were used within the residency weeks to prompt movement and inspiration for the end sharings.
Visual art and drawing – Visual artist Mike shared his evolving drawing practice capturing participants while moving and also allowing them to develop their own drawing practice to experience how to capture the essence of dance in an image and relate this to themes of nature are present within the movement.
Easy-read formats & Accessibility in Performance – Visual easy reads were introduced to the communities through printed promotional material as well as in online communications. Stopgap Dance Company (pioneers in access work) provided the Dance Limerick Project Team Training on the creation of easy-read material and Accessibility in Performance. This ensured that the final sharings can be enjoyed by the diverse range of people the team worked with throughout the year.
Audio describing – The process of audio describing developed people’s ability to create live descriptions that communicate dance in connection with landscapes, nature and climate.
Sensory exploration – The communities engaged in a sensory exploration ´Body as a landscape´ that led to a rich base of interwoven imagery of nature and the body that the team used as inspiration during the residentials and that can be seen throughout the final booklet.
Key Findings
Throughout the year the research led to some key findings including:
– Dance and movement can enhance climate literacy and engagement by making complex ideas more accessible.
– Intergenerational knowledge sharing plays a crucial role in community-led climate action.
– Embodied practices help people process climate anxiety and feel empowered to take action.
– Collaboration between artists and climate researchers leads to innovative public engagement methods.
Quotes
‘Seeing the joy and curiosity sparked in participants when connecting movement with nature was truly inspiring.’ – Roberta Ceginskaite, Dance Artist
‘This project has reinforced the importance of accessibility in climate communication. Everyone has a role to play, and art helps bridge the gap.’ – Ciara Moynihan, Climate Researcher
‘I always felt safe here. The only challenge was in my own mind. It has been a journey through the most wonderful landscapes.’ – Participant
‘It reminded me that I am nature. I am the water. I am the energy. Caring for all as one is imperative.’ – Participant
Interview with Katy Hewison and Emer Casey for Creative Ireland
Read and listen to an conversation between DL Bridge artist and project lead Katy Hewison and Communication and project support Emer Casey at the midway point of the project.
Read the article here.
Listen to the article here.
Project Booklet
A handbook containing key learnings, insights, and practical steps towards promoting creative climate action in your community. View it here.
Media Links
ilovelimerick.ie, 3rd March 2024
Limerick Post, 27th March 2024
ilovelimerick.ie, 13th November 2024
corklive.ie, 14th November 2024
thewondersofthisplace.org
Creating a Climate for Change in Limerick was one of the twenty-four projects selected for the Spark Creative Climate Action Fund II projects for 2024 by the Creative Ireland Programme in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC).
