Lecture “Saving the World with Art?”
with Nicola Bramkamp
Saving the world with art? How artists and audiences can counteract the climate crisis
Although theatre has been about almost nothing but crises and disasters since its inception, we struggle to find the right narratives for the climate catastrophe. How can we talk about the dramatic changes we are facing in a way that doesn’t paralyse us from the outset? What does the climate crisis mean for artists, audiences, cultural administrations and possible new funding principles? How must cultural institutions change in order to operate within planetary boundaries? And is it even the role of art to get involved in the fight against the climate crisis?
It is clear that our society must become completely climate-neutral, preferably by 2035. No sector, including culture, can fail to meet this benchmark. So there is a lot to do: let’s talk about new narratives, the freedom of art, business ecology challenges and exciting artistic perspectives. In her keynote speech, Nicola Bramkamp, Artistic Director of SAVE THE WORLD, will talk about how to make art in a good mood despite all these questions.
Duration: ca. 45 min
Language: German
Nicola Bramkamp is a curator and was theatre director at Theater Bonn from 2013 to 2018. In 2014, she founded the Art meets Science initiative SAVE THE WORLD, which stages global future issues worldwide. SAVE THE WORLD brings together artists and experts to communicate the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to a broad audience. The artistic programme ranges from festivals, performances and shows to exhibitions, conferences and talks. Most recently, she curated and designed the roadshow “Wir können auch anders” (We can do differently) and brought the good stories of transformation to the stage together with stars from science and culture such as Prof Maja Göpel, Bjarne Mädel, Max Mutzke and others. She is also co-founder of the “Performing for Future” network, which – in addition to aesthetic issues – is committed to the sustainable, operationally ecological reform of cultural institutions. In 2023, she was honoured with the „Kulturgestalten” future prize for her commitment.
