Principle 1: Art for Action enables young people to express themselves, their concerns and their ideas through their 'Artivism' (art as activism). 

The aim of the making events is to create a democratic space for exploring how young people feel climate change should be addressed. To do so the young people may engage with others to understand climate change in relation to their local context. This may involve interactions with parents and carers, older generations in the community, community leaders and others who have an active role within community decision making. Through these interactions, the young people may involve local languages and dialects, local experiences of climate adaptation and mitigation, and local heritage. 

It is well documented that discussing climate change can increase anxiety amongst young people. In thinking about your event it is important to consider how you will manage the wellbeing of participants. Some useful resources on climate anxiety have been created by Highland One World: Issue to action: Tackling Climate Anxiety ​in the classroom – Highland One World, Tackling Climate Anxiety ​in the Classroom - resource board and by the Open University: Eco-anxiety and how to cope with the Climate and Ecological Crisis | OpenLearn - Open University.

Reflection Point: Who are you planning to get together? 

• Who in the community might the young people interact with to inform their artivism?
• What permissions, communications would be needed to facilitate this?
• How could local heritages, languages and adaptations / mitigations be incorporated into these interactions?
• How will an awareness of eco-anxiety inform how you plan your activities with young people?

On the next page you will consider Art for Action principle 2 and implications for your planning.

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