From Coal to Culture 


Climate change is a scientific fact – but a cultural, social, and economic problem. Accordingly, solutions to climate change must also be found in these fields. While economical and social responses are beginning to be devised, cultural ones are still virtually nonexistent in the climate debate. ‘From Coal to Culture’ hopes to change this by shedding light on the connection between climate change and culture. Politics is to some extent all about telling stories – and who does that best – scientists or filmmakers, artists and writers?


The project focuses on climate and the cultural sector in two ways. First, by involving the culture workers in the run-up to Copenhagen via concerts and exhibitions to use cultural expression as a tool to reach more people. If provided with the right knowledge and insights, culture is at its best a very powerful way of communicating. GlobalFOCUS was also the co-organizer of the No More Lullabies music and film festival in Stockholm (together with 350.org and others). The event, which drew a spectacular turnout, featured performances from artists such as Robyn and Benny Anderson from ABBA. In December 2008 we initiated the “Tänk om!” art exhibition in Stockholm where 45 artists presented their visions for the future.

Secondly we have looked at what the culture sector itself will gain in the change from a coal-consuming society to a culture-consuming society. Who are the winners in the transition from coal to culture, and what decision are needed to take us there? A number of seminars, panel discussions and articles have been produced toward this end, all in an effort to get producers, directors, painters, or communication experts themselves to engage in the issue. We have hosted a series of “From Coal to Culture” workshops (in Stockholm and in Beijing) where cultural workers and climate entrepreneurs have discussed the role of the culture sector in the transformation to a sustainable future. We have also arranged a series of public Coal to Culture seminars.

Project Leader: Caroline Matsson, Contact info: caroline.matsson[at]globalfocus.net