UNESCO and Art Partner – Calling All Young Artists To Respond To The Climate Emergency!

World leaders will meet for the annual United Nations Convention on climate change and Art Partner is inviting artists and creatives of all nationalities, races, genders and faiths, between 14 and 30 years of age, to submit work that responds to and creates conversations around the urgent need for climate action.

Entries open on 20 July, 2021 and close on 20 September, 2021 and eight finalists will be awarded cash prizes of $10k, $5k or $2k. An additional 20 creatives will receive honourable mentions by a globally recognised panel of judges** comprised of industry experts and leaders in the fields of arts and science.

Amber Testino, President of Art Partner said: “It is essential that all nations, faith organisations and businesses come together now, on a global scale, to tackle climate change and commit to achieving carbon neutralization by 2050. Our goal is to help amplify the call to action against climate change by providing a platform where the voices of the next generation of concerned creatives can be seen and heard. Especially members of marginalized communities, who are often underrepresented and whose voices are not always heard. We look forward to seeing the work submitted!”

·       Lidia Brito, UNESCO Regional Director for Science in Latin America and the Caribbean

·       Han Feng, Artist

·       Candice Marks, Senior Global Agent Art Partner

·       Tyler Mitchell, Photographer and Filmmaker

·       Marina Testino, Advocate for Sustainable Fashion

·       Ferdinando Verderi, Creative Director of Vogue Italia

·       Matt Williams, Curator at Camden Art Centre

·       Shaway Yeh, Founder of Yehyehyeh and Group Style Editorial Director of Modern Media in China

Lidia Brito, UNESCO Regional Director for Science in Latin America and the Caribbean said: “Despite the fact that Latin America and the Caribbean produce only 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it’s is a region that is experiencing enormous changes in rainfall, rising temperatures and the frequency and severity of weather-related disasters. The climate emergency is already having devastating social, economic and environmental impacts. From melting Andean glaciers and severe forest fires, to destroying floods and droughts, Latin America faces climate-related development challenges that are unprecedented.”

Candice Marks said: “Throughout history art, in all of its various forms, has been a means to explore as well as to affect major issues and events. I am honoured to be part of CreateCOP26 whose objective is to channel creative expression from all over the globe to inspire and share ambitious climate awareness at every level and to show the importance of acting now for our future generations.”

Marina Testino said: “If there is something the Pandemic has shown, it is how interconnected we all are; how events in one place can deeply affect somewhere far away. When it comes to the climate emergency this truth is amplified and I hope that through #CreateCOP26 we can heighten the awareness of how our choices and actions affect others across the globe.”

Ferdinando Verderi said: “When it comes to provoking change, one action is worth a thousand words: this program is created to reward ideas which try to imagine new ways to act.”

Matt Williams said: “#CreateCOP26 is an opportunity to bring together creative voices from across the globe. Providing a platform to visually share and discuss their personal experiences to understand and counter the numerous challenges climate change brings.”

Han Feng said: “It is important for the next generation of creatives to address issues of climate change mitigation through the lens of their creativity because they will be the ones to face the climate challenges in the future, and they most certainly will have to be creative in a myriad of ways with their approaches. Art is a powerful way to illustrate the problem at the ground-level, and is therefore important to give voice to young artists.”