Inverleith House to highlight climate crisis

Artists and scientists are coming together to highlight the impact of the climate crisis at The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

It's been awarded £150,000 to create an exhibition called "Climate House" within the existing Inverleith House.

Creative Head Emma Nicolson wants to make it accessible to everyone, even during lockdown.

She said: "Inverleith House’s proximity to the world of plants, and the richness of scholarship and practice associated with RGBE, means that we have an abundance of resources at our disposal to begin thinking about the role of art institutions in the age of Climate Crisis.

"We believe that art has an important part to play in linking objects, images, processes, people, locations, histories and discourse in a physical space, opening up dialogues and imaginaries that could be critical in finding solutions to this crisis.

"By turning our house into a home, we will welcome the 21st-century explorer – an explorer who listens to voices less heard, refuses to conform to the boundary between culture and nature, and is eager to imagine ways of living for the future.

"To receive the Outset Contemporary Art Fund’s Transformative Grant, in partnership with the Serpentine, presents a momentous opportunity to focus on the desperate nature of our planet’s plight.

"Climate House seeks to change the way we view the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis. It aligns with Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s mission to explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future.

"As a Botanic Garden, we have a unique history of high-quality programming in the arts. This award acknowledges an exciting juncture, as we launch our new manifesto for the arts.

"Working with artists, scientists and horticulturists, the Outset partners and Serpentine colleagues will help us reimagine our approach, provide visibility and advocacy to our new ambitions, and enable us to think and work differently, reflecting upon one of the most urgent concerns of our age."