APE ARTS

THE IMAGINATION IS A POWERFUL TOOL...

ARTISTS CAN USE IT TO SHOW OTHERS THE WORLD AS THEY SEE IT

AND BRING OTHERS INTO THEIR DREAM OF HOW THE WORLD COULD BE

APE believes that the imagination plays a vital role in shaping our response to climate change and other pressing societal concerns, because it is our imagination that creates the future: much of what we see today was previously conceived in the human imagination, and so how our future unfolds is very much shaped by our current thoughts and dreams.
 
To paraphrase Einstein, “We cannot solve our problems with the same mindset that created them,” and so it is the imaginative response of artists, musicians, writers and filmmakers ‘thinking outside the box’ that will help to resolve the crises we face today.

An imaginative response is also vital to raise awareness of the inherent injustices, corporate 'greenwash' and cynicism that pervade government, business and the media. That is why APE gives funds to organisations such as Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping - because Reverend Billy's imaginative response to the beast of consumerism helps people to see, sometimes for the first time, how their personal actions affect the global community.  In a recent 'intervention' Reverend Billy 'exorcised the spirit of BP' from The Tate as part of an 'Art Not Oil' demostration to raise awareness of the way BP endeavours to cleanse its corporate image by sponsoring the arts.

Click here to see a slide-show of Reverend Billy in action at The Tate.

In these and other ways, the imagination will be key to bringing about a more just and sustainable world: at APE we believe that “An artist is not a special kind of person; every person is a special kind of artist” and that everyone can play unique role in creating a just and sustainable future.

THE APE ARTS PROGRAMME

For five years, APE has supported artists, musicians and art activists to bring about innovative art interventions, installations and exhibitions to highlight the role art and artists can take in environmental justice.

APE has worked with some of the most innovative arts-based organisations in the UK, including Platform, Art not Oil, Liberate Tate, Tipping Point and many others, and their fascinating work can be viewed in the Music and Arts section of our Projects Pages.

In the Autumn of 2011, APE will continue this exciting work by embarking on a new Arts Programme that seeks out and partners with innovative organisations that are actively furthering the message of climate awareness and environmental injustice.

Details of our Arts Programme will be released via our regular e-Newsletter so please sign up to this via our Home Page or bookmark this page and check us out from time to time.