Do you work in arts and culture? Do you feel passionately about the climate and ecological emergency?

Then come to ONCA Gallery to find out about declaring, what it means for your organisation or practice, and how to write your own declaration of climate and ecological emergency. Culture Declares is a growing movement of people in arts and culture declaring a climate and ecological emergency. We pledge to tell truths, take action and seek justice. We believe arts and culture can lead in creating a regenerative future that protects the planet and sustains everyone, everywhere.

The South East Coastal Hub launched in September 2021, initially reaching from Brighton to Hastings, but open to anyone who feels connected to the Sussex Coast.

NB. A declarers’ workshop is also being held in Hastings on September 21 (venue tbc).

Why declare now?

The Earth is in crisis, facing the combined catastrophes of global heating, a mass extinction of vital biodiversity and a degradation of ecosystems health. Of these, global heating is the major threat multiplier because it is non-linear, containing many systems that feed back on each other and accelerate change, indirectly destroying ecosystems. Direct destruction of nature – or ecocide – is resulting in major impacts on people and other species, including the Covid-19 pandemic.

What is needed is urgent, comprehensive action to decarbonise, support places to adapt, restore nature and make reparations. Fortunately, humans are capable of responding in a remarkable variety of ways to accelerate solutions and adaptations. The cultural sector has immense potential to stir responses, break old habits and create new stories and visions for our world.

The Culture Declares Emergency movement is gaining pace internationally with thousands of individuals and hundreds or organisations declaring since 2019. If you have creative or civic resources to contribute, such as meeting space, biodiverse sites, skills, community partners, or exciting programmes, then your declaration allows you to explain the contribution you can make.

Culture Declares Emergency website

ONCA’s declaration of climate and ecological emergency