The aim of the collaboration was to highlight or push forward one or more of the recommendations made by the jury in response to the question “What do we need to do in our homes, in business and our local area to help tackle the climate change crisis?” The festival team worked with the Jury to develop a brief and interview 3 artists, seeking a project that would be impactful – fun – simple – memorable – future thinking – for everyone. After a very close selection process, the People’s Jury chose to work with Get It Done, a Manchester based community arts organisation.
Get It Done, the People’s Jury and the National Festival of Making began collaborating to engage the public in conversations and collective action around climate change, as well as generate civic pride through creativity and culture. The project was brought to thousands of people over the National Festival of Making 2023 weekend where the Jury gathered tips and tricks on their giant chalkboard plinth and prompted people to pledge their support for a positive climate future. The content generated from this weekend has informed a web forum built by Get It Done.
Get It Done also proposed a piece of shadow art installed on the side of a central building in Blackburn, bringing attention to the changes in weather and passing of time as we draw closer to a climate-unstable future. Together the group worked to design the artwork through a series of creative workshops, from mocking up the shadow art out of cardboard to drawing what a positive climate future looks like for the area.
The final piece was made from recycled plastics collected from Lancashire Businesses by Relic Plastic. Unveiled at a launch event, The People’s Jury and their families, Get It Done and the National Festival of Making gathered together in celebration of the process, enjoying food and creative workshops. The artwork is is now installed on the front of The Making Rooms, adjacent to the Town Hall, acting as a gentle reminder to passers-by of our need to take action.
About the People’s Jury
Brought together by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and facilitated by Shared Futures, The People’s Jury are a group of residents who could be seen as a mini-population of Blackburn with Darwen, mirroring local demographics in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, ward area and attitude towards climate change. Jury members met for 30 hours between September and December of 2022, hearing from local experts, scientists and researchers, all giving them a different perspective on climate change. The aim of these sessions was to create a set of recommendations answering: What do we need to do in our homes, in business and our local area to help tackle the climate change crisis?
About Get It Done
Get It Done is a community arts organisation based in Manchester. Since 2017 they have been creating opportunities for collaboration, learning and participation to create impact on what matters most. Get It Done supports people to achieve their creative visions of the future, and has a track record of enabling communities and imaginations to thrive.
Photography by Get It Done, Beatrice Davidson and National Festival of Making.
