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HARRISONPARROTT COMMISSIONED FOR BRITISH COUNCIL COP26 PROJECT

21/4/2021

HarrisonParrott is delighted to have received a grant to undertake a project, ​‘Climate Portals’, as part of the British Council’s programme at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow. Responding to the British Council’s brief, together with our partners we will explore the topic of climate change through art, science and digital technology. The aspiration of this programme is to stimulate global conversations, provide creative responses and to inspire transformational change. 

Centred around a Shared_​Studios ​‘Portal’ shipping container in residence at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, ​‘Climate Portals’ will enable immersive, life-sized and life-like connections creating the sensation of being in the same room. This will allow people across the world to talk, dance, play and collaborate. The portal will connect the following countries with the UK:

Erbil, Iraq
Mexico City, Mexico
Gaza, Palestinian Territories
Kigali, Rwanda
Nakivale, Uganda

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A father and daughter outside the portal at the Harsham Camp for Internally Displaced Persons in Erbil, Iraq © UNICEF Iraq

“The storytelling power of the arts has long been a powerful vehicle to inspire and influence change. ​‘Climate Portals’ is an exciting way to come together with communities from around the world where we can learn from each other, collaborate and create, and spark ideas and conversations that will provide a diverse range of perspectives and approaches to solving the climate crisis.”

(Professor Jeffrey Sharkey, Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland)

Each location has international partner curators who will engage their communities in immersive portal-to-portal collaborations. These curators will each identify participants, organise events, facilitate dialogues and provide live language interpretation, resulting in an average of 12 hours of content each week for a total of 4 months leading up to and during COP26 in November 2021. ​‘Climate Portals’ will also engage conservatoire students, Scottish arts institutions and the general public in Glasgow more broadly. Focussed around the theme of climate change and its scientific underpinning, we hope to include new artistic commissions, masterclasses, and facilitate knowledge exchange in collaboration with the international curators. 

Portals Overview © Shared_Studios

“Over the past seven years, Shared_​Studios has created meaningful human connections between people separated by distance and difference. We are excited to be a part of ​‘Climate Portals’ and connect communities around the world to exchange ideas and collaborate on solutions on the environment and sustainability. ​‘Climate Portals’ provides an opportunity for people to listen and learn from the experiences of communities, artists and changemakers around the world.”

(Shared_Studios co-founder, Michelle Moghtader)

In celebration of Earth Day (22 April), we are also releasing our latest podcast episode ​‘How can the arts respond to the climate emergency?’ featuring guests Alex Sobel MP (Shadow Minister for the arts and heritage), Crispin Woodhead (Chief Executive, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment) and Sam Lee (Mercury Prize nominated folk singer, conservationist, song collector; and an award-winning promoter, broadcaster and activist). Furthermore, as part of our broader commitment to a sustainable future, we are proud to add HarrisonParrott’s name to the 4000+ organisations and artists who are Music Declares Emergency. 

We look forward to sharing more with you about the development of this COP26 project over the coming months. 

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Speaking to students and educators at the University of Hariwa in Herat, Afghanistan © Amar C. Bakshi for Shared_Studios

“Creating truly distinctive and thought-provoking work has been part of HarrisonParrott’s ethos for over 50 years. ​‘Climate Portals’ demonstrates our dedication to present projects that promote international cultural exchange, diversity and inclusivity, technological innovation and, of course, sustainability. We endeavour to embrace the challenge of climate change and look forward to working with the British Council, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Shared_​Studios, Scottish Ballet and many other partners in addressing this pertinent topic.”

(Henry Southern, HarrisonParrott)
Click here to visit the British Council’s ‘The Climate Connection’ website

Climate Portals is supported by the British Council’s Creative Commissions programme which are a series of creative commissions exploring climate change through art, science and digital technology.

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British Council logo