Below is my reading of an executive summary of my ‘letter to the arts community about the ecological crisis - let’s put the climate emergency back onto our agendas’. I invite you to read the complete letter, when you get a chance, in English or in French, however this summary will give you the basics. I also invite you to submit comments on my Substack, on any of my social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linked in) or directly to claude@conscient.ca. 

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Dear Canadian arts and cultural sector,

I hope these words find you well.

I’ve recently completed season 5 of my conscient podcast - balado conscient at La Montagnarde, an arts residency organized by l’ATSA : quand l’art passe à l'action, situated on the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe-Algonquin people (also known as St-Adolphe-d’Howard, Québec).

Let me get to the point. 

Based on recent conscient podcast conversations, I have observed that the climate emergency (as well as the larger ecological crisis) have fallen off the collective agendas of the Canadian arts and culture sector. 

The uncertainties we face are grim (see Disruptions on the Horizon).

I am advocating that these issues take their rightful place amongst our most urgent priorities and risk assessments. 

In my complete letter, I invite you to read and listen to your arts and cultural peers who make a strong case for increased dialogue and rapid change, including: 

• Owais Lightwala and SGS’s (e194) Manifesto for Now
• Robin Sokoloski (e201) and the Living Climate-Impact Framework for the Arts (also e195)
• SCALE-LESAUT (e176) and Mapping the path to net zero for c\a\n\a\d\a’s Arts and Culture Sector” – what we found out – and what we need to do now!
• Canada Council for the Arts & Mass Culture’s Climate Mitigation Strategies for the Arts and the Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for the Arts report
• Ian Garrett (e182) and Sarah Fioravanti (é158) on CG Tools Canada
• Alex Sarian’s The Audacity of Relevance

And much more (in the letter)…

We need to connect these critical initiatives by developing a ‘national arts and climate strategy’ as recommended by SCALE-LeSAUT so that the arts and cultural sector can play a much larger role in creative climate actions and solutions (both short and long term).  

I think we can get there if we work together. My complete letter includes some practical suggestions and links.

In the meantime, the next season of conscient podcast - balado conscient will focus on ‘art and culture in times of crisis and collapse’ including an ‘artists survival kit’ (working title) : a set of practical tools and resources for artists to adapt and respond to the risks of ecological and societal collapse. This project will be informed by advisory circles. If you would like to participate, please contact me at claude@conscient.ca.

Thanks for your consideration. 

And if you agree with what I propose in this letter, I invite you to share it and talk about it with your peers. 

I submit this letter with respect and in solidarity.

Claude Schryer

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END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

Thanks for your presence. Season 5 of this podcast is now completed. I'll be back with season 6 on art and culture in times of crisis and collapse (see trailer for details) sometime in 2025. 

Background on the conscient podcast 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa). It’s my way to give back and be present.

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and it's francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I publish a Substack newsletter called ‘a calm presence' which are 'short, practical essays about collapse acceptance, adaptation, response and art’. To subscribe (free of charge) see https://acalmpresence.substack.com. You'll also find a podcast version of each a calm presence posting on Substack or one your favorite podcast player.

Also, please note that a complete transcript of most conscient podcast and balado conscient episodes from season 1 to 5 is available on the web version of this site (not available on podcast apps) here: https://conscient-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes.

Your feedback is always welcome at claude@conscient.ca and/or on conscient podcast social media: Facebook, X, Instagram or Linkedin. 

I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on November 6, 2024