It’s undeniable: the climate crisis is the most urgent issue of our time and the biggest contemporary threat humanity — and all other life forms — has ever faced. This crisis is also a reflection of a multitude of other issues in our globalised world: gender imparity, white supremacy, and class inequality, to name a few.

At the Prince Claus Fund, we believe that initiatives aimed at addressing the extensive range of environmental catastrophes must centre on those most directly and urgently impacted by the climate crisis — namely, the inhabitants of the Global South. What’s more, the environmental crisis often seems too large and complex to be overcome. Now more than ever, we need the fields of arts and culture to help us respond, to inspire and motivate us by challenging our point-of-view, encouraging communal action by introducing intersectional and trans-disciplinary perspectives, and centring non-hegemonic forms of knowledge to envision alternative models of climate justice in the world.

This is why, together with Goethe-Institut, we created Cultural & Artistic Responses to the Environmental Crisis, not merely to offer artistic visions but also to take this issue a step further and focus on the urgency of local solutions from the Global South that can offer impactful perspectives on the climate crisis. At the heart of the programme is the aim to establish a South-to-South cooperation between artists and their ideas that goes beyond the timeframe and remunerative support of the programme itself, and that centres meaningful and affective connections between cultural changemakers who are imagining a better environmental future.

The one-year programme brings together 12 artists from a multitude of disciplines and regions, to focus on accelerating their community-based practices addressing environmental issues, with support from four mentors as well as their peers. To foster conversation and collaboration within the cohort, and to support each artist in their own individual practice, this programme — which was specifically designed with consideration to the needs of the selected participants — includes different types of interaction such as workshops, guest talks, peer-to-peer sessions, and a collective project in the form of a publication co-created by the participants.

About the Goethe-Institut
The Goethe-Institut is the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global reach. With 158 institutes in 98 countries, it promotes knowledge of German abroad, encourages international cultural exchange, and conveys an image of contemporary Germany. The Goethe-Institut’s ties with partner institutions in many other places give it about 1,000 points of contact around the world.

About the Prince Claus Fund
The Prince Claus Fund believes that culture is a basic need. We enable artists and cultural practitioners to work freely & without restrictions creating culture that inspires positive social change, leading to a future that is equitable, inclusive, peaceful, and environmentally sustainable. The Fund was established as a tribute to HRH Prince Claus’s dedication to culture and development more than 25 ago. Now, we are a forerunner in the unrestricted funding field, fostering meaningful connections within a worldwide community of creative changemakers. Through our Awards, we amplify young & emerging talent, accelerate future leaders and recognise change makers where cultural expression is under pressure.