#6.1 Relationships With Community: Truth-telling

This might be about focusing on the science and the stories, providing evidence, inviting diverse voices or using creative approaches to convey and explore truths. The approach you take will be guided by the artforms or cultural areas you specialise in, and the interests of your communities.

Sign in woodland spelling To Be Heard
To Be Heard installation by Still/Moving

However you choose to do this, we suggest that you involve people in expressing their own ideas. Arts and culture can profoundly highlight our own truths and help us see from other perspectives. Truth-telling is best when done in participatory ways, creating space for dialogue and acknowledging that there is no single truth but shared truths can be agreed from different experiences.

Letters to the Earth gathering
Letters to the Earth gathering, Lyric Hammersmith

TASK:

Express your declaration

You might want to use your creativity and influence to make a bold statement of truth-telling about the Earth crisis. Here are some possible approaches:

  • Consider focusing on a particular aspect of the crisis rather than generalising too much. 
  • You might want to highlight hidden truths, for example, the experiences of people first and worst affected, or some corruption that you feel should come to light. 
  • You might try to help people understand the connections between consumption, climate change, biodiversity, conflict and migration. 
  • Can you use art and technology to show the invisible, for example, raising awareness of air quality or future possible impacts?
  • Perhaps education is your focus. Can you involve young people in expressing their truths, and develop their sense of agency in the process? 

RESOURCES FOR THIS TASK