• Definitely we need a cultural transformation, and no one’s better positioned to contribute to that than the arts and culture. I think part of the task that we have ahead, as artists and culture makers, is to really question how we got here in the first place, what brought us here and and what are the stories we are being told.

Holà. I decided  to begin my conversation with the brilliant Mexican-Canadian cultural worker and climate communicator Julia Matamoros in Spanish so that she could introduce herself in her first language : 

‘Bienvenida Julia al podcast consciente. Mi español no es muy bueno pero quiero empezar nuestra conversación en este idioma. Antes de pasar al inglés, ¿por qué no empiezas con una introducción en español y luego un breve resumen de tus antecedentes en inglés y luego hablaremos sobre el arte y la crisis ecológica? ¿VALE?

It worked. Gracias Julia. 

I first met Julia in 2022 while I was chair of the board of SCALE and she was the communications lead. I was impressed by her strategies and insights on how to further engage artists in the climate emergency for example : 

• I think it's very difficult to build new worlds if we first don't understand what's wrong with the values we abide to right now and that on the one hand, and the second is to start imagining new worlds. That is very hard for a lot of us, when you only know one way of existing and relating to other forms of life. It's very difficult to think there could be other ways. I think arts and culture are perfectly positioned to lead the way for that. Art naturally is a space where we can break the rules, create new ones, question, and resignify. I think we need to resignify a lot and art needs to lead the way there, for sure.

As you can hear, Julia integrates her diverse background in arts, culture, social work, and community development with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and complex and urgent issues like the climate emergency. 

Julia believes these areas are interconnected and essential for societal transformation and she talks about her work with a passion and a type of serenity that is contagious, in a good way. 

Our conversation explores a range of environmental challenges such as water scarcity in her native Mexico and highlights innovative climate solutions like rainwater harvesting, the permaculture movement, Mexico’s recent ban on GMO corn, and 'Energising Artivism', a new project that Julia is involved in that elevates the role of arts in social and environmental activism.

Julia also underscores the need for building networks to increase resilience in addressing climate issues, noting that many initiatives lack adequate community-building infrastructure and she explains this gap and how to address it throughout our exchange. 

Among other issues, Julia observes a disconnect between climate change understanding and action in the arts and culture sector, particularly among cultural leadership, and she does not hold her punches in her observations of the status quo:

• The arts and culture sector cares. People care. There's a lot of things happening. Where I see the gap is not necessarily in artists, cultural professionals or even organizations. I see it at the leadership level. This has been very shocking to me. Why is that? I think one of the reasons could be perhaps that Canada has started experiencing the impacts of climate change more drastically in recent years. Whereas other parts of the world have been experiencing that for a while. So what has been going on for the last few years, fires, floods, will change the perception around it as a real emergency. There's a reluctance to speak about it as a priority, to talk about it as an emergency, and to devote resources to it.

This section of our conversation brought me back to episode 183 about cultural leadership where we heard how the arts sector is exploring many of the root causes of the ecological crisis however, ironically, the arts sector is not yet in climate emergency mode.

This is a complex dilemma but I like the way Julia suggests ways for us to move forward. I want to thank  Julia for her cultural leadership and vision for the role of the arts. 

Julia wrote this note to me after our conversation which I think summarizes her concerns and aspirations: 

• Art is always in the business of culture and of cultural transformation. My wish would be for this transformation to become intentional, grounded in understanding of what no longer works, and in our shared yearning for new possibilities. I think it's already happening but not as a common project.

I agree. Let’s make it a common project, everyone, together. Hagamos que sea un proyecto común, todos juntos. 

Julia recommends the following publication 

• Spring Creek Podcast
• Sensing Earth : compilation of essays, interviews, poetry, manifestos, choreographic prompts, speculative fiction and case studies at the intersection of art and environmental activism, culture and nature.

Projects mentioned in the episode: 

• SCALE-LeSAUT
• 23 Climate Things
• Artivism Inaugural Global Conference Sept 5-8

Other links from Mexico

• Three channel video by interdisciplinary artist Tania Candiani :  I recently saw her work at MUAC. These images give you a better sense of how the piece was presented.
• Base bio architectura: there is a lot of experimentation happening in ecological architecture - different materials, techniques but with spectacular design at the heart of it all. I find base bio-architectura particularly beautiful.

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Chapters (AI generated)

Introduction
Julia Matamoros introduces herself, sharing her journey from Mexico to Canada and her extensive background in arts, culture, and community development. She reflects on how she has integrated her passions for social work and the arts throughout her career.

The Intersection of Art and Climate
Julia discusses the natural transition from focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion to addressing climate issues, emphasizing their interconnectedness. She shares her belief that the arts play a crucial role in making connections between these causes.

Art as a Necessity
Julia elaborates on her lifelong relationship with art, describing it as a necessity that has always been integral to her life. She highlights her diverse interests in various forms of artistic expression, from literature to film and beyond.

Perspectives on the ‘End of the World (as we know it)
The conversation shifts to the theme of the end of the world as we know it with Julia sharing her perspective shaped by her experiences in Mexico. She discusses how the concept varies globally and the creative responses emerging in communities facing crises. 

Note: Julia noted afterwards that ‘I think William Gibson's famous quote summarizes what I'm trying to say “The future is already here – it's just not evenly distributed.’

Engaging with Climate through Art
Julia shares her belief that the arts must engage with pressing societal issues, including climate change and inequality. She discusses her work with various projects aimed at fostering collaboration and participation within the arts sector.

Energizing Artivism
Julia introduces the concept of ‘Energising Artivism,’ a new project focused on uplifting the role of arts in addressing environmental and social challenges. She highlights the upcoming Artivism Conference in South Africa as a platform for collaboration.

Building Networks for Resilience
The importance of building networks within the arts community is emphasized as a means to foster resilience and collaboration. Julia discusses the need for a centralized infrastructure to connect artists and cultural organizations effectively.

Challenges Facing the Arts Sector
Julia and Claude discuss the various challenges artists face, including housing issues and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and how these challenges can be reframed as opportunities for deeper engagement for the arts with societal issues.

Cultural Transformation through Art
Julia argues for the necessity of a cultural transformation to address the climate emergency, asserting that artists are uniquely positioned to lead this change, emphasizing the importance of questioning existing narratives and imagining new possibilities.

Art and Community in Mexico
Shifting focus to Mexico, Julia shares insights into how the arts community is integrating ecological concerns into their work and vice versa. She highlights various initiatives that blend art with permaculture and sustainable practices.

Reviving Indigenous Craftsmanship
Julia discusses the resurgence of indigenous craftsmanship in Mexico, emphasizing the importance of ethical collaboration and recognition of cultural heritage. She describes how this movement is intertwined with sustainability and community building.

The Role of Arts