Join us to explore the intersection of climate and disability justice through art and culture.

We’ll explore two key questions:

• How have arts-based approaches supported disabled people to access the climate movement and climate decision-making?
• How have arts-based approaches offered opportunities to resist and unsettle stereotypes about disabled people's experiences?

Agenda

Access an Easy Read Event Programme via Dropbox (PDF 2.68 MB). This Easy Read document was produced by Door in the Wall Arts Access CIC. 

The event will start with an introduction to climate and disability justice in Scotland led by Maia Pace, Policy and Research Officer at Inclusion Scotland.

We’ll then hear two inspiring case studies of arts-led projects exploring climate and disability justice. Sarah Bell will present the Sensing Climate project, which is exploring opportunities for responses to the climate crisis which build fairer communities that centre the priorities, needs and ideas of people who are disabled, d/Deaf, neurodivergent and people with long-term health conditions. Alan James Burns will share moments from Divergently Together, a community engagement project across the island of Ireland that uses STEM technologies and creative methods to facilitate the participation of disabled and neurodivergent communities in climate action.

There will be ample time for the audience to ask the speakers any questions.

This is the third and final event in our online event series exploring the role of arts and culture in advocating for intersectional climate justice.

Our collaborators

Alan James Burns (they/them) is a neurodivergent, environmental and audiovisual artist producing interactive, socially engaged and site-specific projects with comprehensive learning and engagement programmes. The focal points of their highly collaborative practice are disability, climate emergency and a just society. Alan is the lead artist of Divergently Together.

Maia Pace (she/her) is a Policy and Research Officer at Inclusion Scotland. Inclusion Scotland support disabled people to exercise their rights, participate fully, collaborate, and influence change. Maia is the lead policy officer for Climate, Rurality, Health, Housing, and the COVID-19 Inquiry . This year, Inclusion Scotland have had a targeted focus on emergency preparedness and embedding disability competence in emergency planning, which Maia has led.

Sarah Bell (she/her) is a Senior Lecturer in health and disability geography at the University of Exeter. She uses qualitative and arts-based research approaches to examine the intersections between disability, well-being, social inequality and the changing environments encountered through the life course. Sarah leads the Sensing Climate project.

About culture/SHIFT events

culture/SHIFT’s ongoing informal events programme connects cultural practices and environmental sustainability across Scotland. Since 2013 our events have provided a platform for those interested in teasing out the links between the arts, climate change and environmental sustainability through the exchange of ideas, knowledge and practices. culture/SHIFT events are equally open to people from creative and environmental backgrounds and free to attend.

Accessibility

This event will take place on Zoom. In the first half there will be a series of presentations which will not require active participation. The second half will be a Q+A where you will be invited to ask the speakers questions.

Do you need support to attend?

Culture for Climate Scotland is committed to ensuring that our events are welcoming and accessible for everyone. We value the diversity of our communities and the different experiences, identities and perspectives that people bring, including disability, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, economic status or caring responsibility.

We will make all possible adjustments to our events so that no one is excluded. These adjustments will, most likely, differ from event-to-event and person-to-person, so we need your help to get it right. 

Some adjustments may take more time to arrange than others, so we appreciate you giving us as much notice as possible about what you need so that we can support you to get the most out of this event.

Please inform us of your accessibility requirements for this event during the registration process. If you have any questions or concerns, please send an email to eleanor.white@cultureforclimate.scot or telephone +44 (0)131 243 2760 and speak to a member of staff.

Header image: Alan James Burns, Unmasking Nature, Beta Fest, 2026, Photo by Simon Lazewski.