CULTURE SHIFT: How Artists are responding to Sustainability in Wales

Today I attended the launch of a report, 'Culture Shift' commissioned by the Arts Council of Wales. Sian Thomas, one of their officers involved, said that instead of their usual practice of buying-in consultants, they decided to commission artists; 'Change the process, Change the outcome.' Well, how revolutionary is that? However, they would only pay for the lunch at Chapter for the participants (and very delicious it was too), but all the contributing artists had to give their time free. There were no summaries of the report available, presumably there was no money for those either. The Chief Executive, Nick Capaldi, their Chief Exec since 2008 had his eyes closed through most of the presentations once he'd done his own. Tiring job getting paid to go to conferences. I had no sense in his presentation that he was passionate about the issues although he talked the talk. Once he is obliged by law to put sustainability to centre stage, perhaps he'll be different. In some ways, the issue of sustainability is not dissimilar to where the issue of equal status for the Welsh Language was some thirty odd years ago. Not that he spoke a word of Welsh, not even a Croeso or a Diolch. Neither did Doug Eagle, the Director of Chapter. On the other hand Poet, Activist and Welsh learner, Emily Hinshelwood put us all to shame with a real effort to convey her message through Cymraeg. Her own story and her poem about her journey across Wales, asking everyone she met three questions about climate change, was the best bit of the morning. She is one of Wales' most influential and committed community arts leaders around sustainability issues and the arts, although she would never describe herself so. She literally and metaphorically walks the walk. There is a bill going before the Welsh Assembly drafted in association with Cynnal Cymru (Sustainability Wales) entitled, 'The Well-being of future generations.' This will make it legally binding for public bodies to get their act together and their policies, behaviours and goals will also be audited by the Welsh Audit Office and a Commissioner. Furthermore, there's a community initiative that is inviting individuals and groups to be part of a national conversation-'The Wales we want'. It was a real pity that there were no presentations in the morning session on the results of the research. Without summaries or copies of the report to hand it was therefore difficult to have much engagement with the audience. However, the report does make interesting reading and is a very important milestone in mapping what is happening in Wales. I was unclear by the end of the morning session how the results will be taken forward. I guess, the afternoon workshops may have addressed that, but I decided I couldn't afford the time. Instead, went off for a walk in the woods, re-motivated to put the environment back to the centre of my own writing,work and art. To upload the report see http://www.emergence-uk/wp-content/uploads/CULTURE-SHIFT