We are pleased to report that the Australia Council for the Arts has granted the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute $78,500 for a project starting in 2021 that will link our Citizen Science program with the Creative Arts.
BMWHI citizen scientists at our monitoring site at Lincoln’s Rock, Wentworth Falls
The project will involve collaborating with artists and our community of citizen scientists who monitor fire recovery and climate change impacts in the Blue Mountains. Across 2021, we will record and develop citizen science stories and collaborate on presentations of the resulting image-sound-story work, culminating in multi-artform exhibitions including a mix of live events and web-based digital arts.
Through this project, BMWHI Head of Eco-Arts and Creative Producer Dr. Paul Brown is working to build long-lasting creative art partnerships and grow the BMWHI Enviro-Arts program.
Initially on a project basis, the work will complement existing community and scientific programs concerned with protecting natural and cultural heritage, assessing climate change impacts, fire recovery and Indigenous burning practices, and natural resource management.
“This project builds on our 15 years of community engagement including environmental arts projects. In this new initiative, scientists and artists together will co-produce new ecological knowledge – aiming to transform understanding of the relationship between humans and the rest of nature, while informing environmental decision-making by communities and agencies.”
This grant is part of the Australia Council’s latest arts projects grant round delivering $8.4 million to support 217 creative projects and cultural activities for the benefit of all Australians.
AC Executive Director of Arts Investment, Alice Nash, said this latest round of investment would fuel creative and cultural production and deliver public value.
“In addition to delivering numerous public benefits, the range of activity supported through this investment demonstrates the ingenuity of artists and organisations in adapting their work in the context of COVID-19. Creativity has and will continue to play a crucial role in connecting Australians and strengthening our culture and economy,” Ms Nash said.
This project is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.
