This Fall, governments will assemble in Kunming, China for the 15th UN summit under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The international conference will set the stage for the negotiations of future commitments and targets to protect biodiversity. As prior “nature commitments” were generally unmet by their 2020 deadline, both internationally and here in Canada, Greenpeace is concerned that this upcoming summit will produce nice words and declarations, but will ultimately be a “toothless tiger”: lacking certainty and accountability.
Greenpeace Canada is therefore calling on the Canadian government to make the protection of Nature – on land and at sea – a priority at all levels of decision-making. We are aiming for federal legislation that would protect biodiversity through an approach that centers Indigenous governance, community voices and highlights our place in the natural world, as opposed to outside of it.
As part of this campaign, we are seeking creative visions of what Nature protection and a better relationship with the natural world could look like.
Call for artists
With a million species now at risk of extinction, we know that Nature is in crisis around the globe, including right here in Canada. The connections between colonialism, systemic racism, the violations of Indigenous rights and this loss of Nature are clear.
To shift away from an extractive view of Nature, we need to embrace a relationship that allows us to reconnect with the natural world around us; one that values Indigenous knowledge and traditions, emphasizes our duty to Nature, and promotes a relationship based on reciprocity.
So what could a better, healthier relationship with Nature look like?
To help answer and visualize this question, we are curating a series of online artistic expressions reflecting on the theme of “Rethinking Nature protection: exploring the diverse ways to preserve the natural world.”
To embark on this artistic journey, we are looking for five (5) creatives (graphic designers, video producers, visual artists – any form of art that you can think of that works well online!) to produce original concepts based on the following prompt:
When you think of decolonizing and better protecting Nature, what does this look like to you, your family, or your community?
Through this creative exploration, we want to showcase, through an artistic lens, how each and every one of us values the Nature around us. We aim to shed light on the diverse ways and opportunities to preserve the natural world, on what it means to decolonize Nature, protect biodiversity, and why legislation is urgently needed. The objective of this call is to support artists in sharing their personal visions and to share the artwork of selected creators online to allow a wide audience to access it.
The series of work will be displayed to the public on the following channels:
- Greenpeace Canada website (FR/ENG)
- Greenpeace Canada Instagram (FR/ENG)
- Greenpeace Canada Facebook (FR/ENG)
Languages
In order to highlight the interconnectedness of language, culture, land, and Nature, we will accept (and encourage) entries expressed in any language indigenous to Turtle Island. Additionally, we will also accept artwork in all languages to reflect the linguistic diversity across so-called Canada.
Accepted formats
All final artwork files will be required in .JPEG, .PNG, .EPS, .PDF, .MP4, or .MP3 format.
Compensation
Each selected creative will be paid $1000 for their work on this project.
Timeline
The following timeline will apply (exact dates subject to change):
- Call for applicants to pitch their vision for the project: March 17th-May 2nd
- Selection of artists: by May 7th
- Introductory meeting: week of May 9th
- Internal presentation of concept & artwork: week of June 13th
- Online display: June 20th – July 7th
We want to learn from diverse perspectives and ways of thinking. As a settler-founded environmental justice organization on stolen Indigenous lands, we want in particular to uplift the experiences and visions of Nature from folks who have been historically excluded from the environmental movement. In this light, we will give priority to Indigenous, Black and People of Colour, individuals identifying with the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and creators with disabilities.
Both professional, non-professional/amateur artists and arts enthusiasts can apply – however, submissions must be made by individuals currently living in so-called Canada.
To apply, please fill in this form (in English) by 11pm EST/8pm PST on Sunday, April 24th 2022.
Should you require accommodations to apply, or if you have any questions regarding this call, please contact Salomé Sané at [email protected].