Since its establishment in 2005, the Ethos Foundation has integrated the creative arts within many of  its sustainability activities, believing that the engagement between creativity and sustainability is fundamental to inclusive, intelligent and effective social transition.

This process began with our 5-day Courageous Conversations at Binna Burra where we engaged artists and photographers-in-residence to document our dialogue journeys into some of the big issues of our time. We also worked closely with outstanding community choir leader Rachel Hore who coordinated daily choir sessions at Courageous Conversations called “Singing from the Same Page”.

During 2007-08, Ethos consultant Kamya O’Keefe (founder of the Dartington Trust’s Art and Ecology Program), coordinated “Time of Transition” a collaborative art and science program involving nine leading regional artists and some of Australia’s foremost ecological and sustainability scientists in creative conversations. The program culminated in a group exhibition at the Gold Coast City Art Gallery in May 2008 with John Dahlsen, Lindy Davidson, Dave Groom, Lyndal Hargrave, Cal MacKinnon, Sharon Muir, Meredith Plant, Michael Pospischil and Robyn Stewart.

In 2008 the Ethos Foundation also organised and hosted “Earth Arts” a weekend workshop of community choir and traditional art and craft with community choir leader Rachel Hore and artist Robyn Stewart.

While our work in the Art and Ecology area has been a little quiet in recent days, the Ethos Foundation continues to evolve its understanding of the dynamic, sometimes surprising interface between the creative arts, sustainability and social change. Ethos consultant Sally MacKinnon now actively integrates creative writing, particularly poetry, into her work with the Foundation and in early 2010, Sally and Kamya began designing a learning program for community organisations, not for profit organisations, businesses and enterprises, and local government that is based on the power of stories and creative, strategic planning. Stay tuned for more on this program later in 2010.

To discuss the Ethos Foundation’s Art and Ecology program please contact Kamya O’Keefe at:
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