Nature and Sustainability
Community Priority
We heard the community state that these were the priorities
Nature, experienced and observed, was an integral theme that emerged in the outdoor plein-air workshops. Participants painted their surrounding nature, and such programming lent itself well to discussing how green spaces fit into their lives (e.g. access, increased time in nature during covid) and hobbies (e.g. hiking and camping), alongside what sustainability politics means to them. Accessing and discovering nature and building a relationship with it were priorities that emerged through these discussions.
Climate Actions
This is what the researchers believe are the associated climate actions
Increasing green spaces in the city and improving access to green spaces are key. Spending time in green spaces (such as for cycling, camping, walking, hanging out) can involve traveling considerable distances inside the GTA as well as going outside the GTA, and therefore, maintaining green spaces and improving public transit coverage not just within the GTA but the province is a priority.
Arts Education, Profession and Sector, and Programming
Community Priority
We heard the community state that these were the priorities
Participants checked in about Scarbrite’s arts programming and overall sense of community amidst arts collectives in the GTA. A lot of participants were students, so their career prospects as well as changing arts sector professions were a recurrent theme. The priority theme was gaining knowledge about the arts sector and professions.
Climate Actions
This is what the researchers believe are the associated climate actions
Climate justice and sustainability, when understood in local ways, are tied to community-driven practices of resilience, support, and identity. This can be developed further by exploring how arts-based storytelling and climate justice can interact.
Community
Community Priority
We heard the community state that these were the priorities
Participants expressed a desire to build communities around the arts.
Climate Actions
This is what the researchers believe are the associated climate actions
Green spaces are essential as public spaces for community building initiative and art programming, while allowing people to develop a relationship with nature. Municipal and provincial policies/permits that make gathering in green spaces an easier process help build a place-based community. Making parks accessible with wheelchair access, public washrooms and transit access would increase their usage as well.
Technology
Community Priority
We heard the community state that these were the priorities
These included discussions about social media and digital cultures (especially in relation to sharing art/commissions and activism) as well as generative AI used in artwork and professionally (e.g. grant writing).
Climate Actions
This is what the researchers believe are the associated climate actions
Social media is an important component of art as a profession, arts-based community building, and climate justice activism. Policies around clean energy and reduced use of toxic chemicals would be integral for more sustainable futures. As well, assessing and mitigating the environmental impact of social media production and Generative AI consumption on energy resources is a significant component of technology policy for just and sustainable futures.
Art and Technique
Community Priority
We heard the community state that these were the priorities
Each workshop built on the previous ones and focused on aspects of plen-air painting such as horizons, shading, landscapes. Discussions focused on instructions about painting and technique. This was supplemented with conversations about being an artist and experiences with profession and creative struggles.
Climate Actions
This is what the researchers believe are the associated climate actions
This ties back to needs around building community spaces as well as having conversations around the arts sector and education. Making such community spaces public and outdoor creativity based makes this accessible to diverse people while providing opportunities to learn from each other with professional and creative growth.
Event Gallery
