Roots of Resilience II: Enhancing Engagement with Cultural Heritage and Climate Change Research

Lead Research Organisation: Queen Mary University of London
Department Name: Drama

Abstract

Roots of Resilience II: Enhancing Engagement with Cultural Heritage and Climate Change Research will enhance engagement with, and impact from, original research undertaken in Build Back Better: A participatory approach to mapping, measuring and mobilising cultural heritage in Brazil's Iron Quadrangle (AH/V006355/1) and the Follow-On project Roots of Resilience: building secure societies through preserving cultural heritage (AH/W006979/1), both of which were supported by the AHRC-DCMS partnership and part of the AHRC/DCMS Cultural Heritage and Climate Change (CHCC) cohort.

The original research produced two key findings: (1) there is a need for local, municipal policies created and monitored in partnership with arts and cultural heritage organisations; (2) young people's lack of awareness of their own cultural heritage is the biggest perceived risk to the capacity of the cultural heritage sector to build resilience to and recovery from environmental catastrophes.

Following these discoveries, we designed a series of impact and engagement activities to share best practice in sustainability and environmental risk reduction focused on young people and a series of municipal policy seminars with network of cultural heritage organisations in Brazil's Iron Quadrangle. We also set up a new partnership with Rio de Janeiro's Municipal Secretariat of Culture, which has led to policy and practice outputs. policy and practice outputs included: training for directors of ten municipal cultural heritage organisations across the city of Rio, and a programme of debates and exhibitions on cultural heritage and the climate crisis as part of series of events being organised by Rio de Janeiro to mark the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) that will include the announcement of a new programme to train 350 young ambassadors for arts and climate action.
This Follow-On project will build on the work that has been created with a range of partners in Brazil who are increasingly focused on developing policies and practice that integrate cultural heritage and environmental strategies to enhance engagement with, and impact from, original research. This will include:
1) A Young Ambassadors programme to disseminate new methodologies and strategies for engaging young people in discussions about cultural heritage and climate action with schools/young people/organisations working in Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. We will also make a manual of methodologies/strategies publicly available in English and Portuguese to maximise ongoing impact from and engagement with original research.
2) We will work closely with Rio's Municipal Secretariat of Culture and ICOMOS Brazil Climate Change Committee to engage Secretaries of Culture, Education and Environment and representatives from arts organisations in other municipalities across Brazil in a series of webinars. In the webinars we will share methodologies, frameworks, and assessment tools for strengthening intangible and tangible cultural heritage exposed to high risks from the climate crisis from across our research and the DCMS/AHRC CCHC cohort. We will then offer follow-up online training for those interested in piloting implementation of strategies in their own contexts.
3) A series of public engagement events (available on and offline) to raise awareness about the role of cultural heritage in the climate crisis and environmental catastrophes amongst general and specialised audiences. Activities will include seminars, performance and an exhibition, as well as film-screenings and a podcast.

Our multidirectional approach includes youth engagement, policy development, as well as high-profile activations and partnerships, to ensure original research from across the CCHC cohort is showcased to a diverse range of publics in Brazil, the UK and beyond and impact of research further enhanced.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description Recommendations to inform new funding call including a policy-research engagement programme
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description Additional Funding, Research Grant, Follow-on Funding Impact & Eng
Amount £5,000 (GBP)
Funding ID AH/Y001966/1 
Organisation Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2024 
End 04/2024
 
Description Queen Mary ISPF Institutional Support Grant (ODA) Rapid Response Call - Extend
Amount £14,981 (GBP)
Organisation Queen Mary University of London 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2024 
End 03/2024
 
Title Qualitative Interviews with Cultural Heritage and Climate Change Sector Stakeholders 
Description Undertook 45 qualitative interviews via zoom with cultural heritage and climate change sector stakeholders, participants included: Alison Tickell (Founder and CEO of Julie's Bicycle), Bryony Butland (Director of Research and Innovation at QMUL), Ed McGovern (Programme Lead - Climate at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation), Ferdinand Saumarez (Project Developer and Curator at Factum Foundation), Inua Ellams (Nigerian-born British poet, playwright and performer), Jurema Machado (Consultant in heritage and cultural policies and former president of the Brazilian National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage), Kate McGrath (Director and CEO at Fuel Theatre), Leandro Valiati (Senior Lecturer and Programme Director in Creative and Cultural Industries at the University of Manchester), Louisa Hrabowy (Programme Lead - Culture at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation), Luana Campos (Executive Secretary at International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) , (Brazil)), Murilo Yudjá - Juruna Indigenous community (Member of Slow Food Brazil), Nick Merriman (Director of the Horniman Museum and Gardens), Pedro Ferreira (Research and Programme Consultant at United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)), Richard Couldrey (Programme Manager at Transition Network), Shoubhik Bandopadhyay (Head of Programme - Arts at Paul Hamlyn Foundation) and Tim Bell (Senior Producer at Complicitè). 
Type Of Material Physiological assessment or outcome measure 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact These qualitative interviews created data that was used in the research to inform 16 recommendations, report and executive summary as part of the consultation. 
 
Description Research-Policy Connections 
Organisation Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution After successfully securing a tender supported by DCMS and AHRC, we have been working closely with partners AHRC to shape the future directions of their cultural heritage and climate change portfolio, following a report of recommendations this collaboration includes developing a new website to enhance communication about the cohort of projects the programme currently supports, and designing a policy-research engagement programme to sit alongside the next highlight notice advertised by Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Collaborator Contribution The Arts and Humanities Research Council have contributed funding for this programme, we also collaborated on facilitating a 2-day workshop in Manchester for representatives from the previous grant cohort, DCMS and British Council which informed some of the research and recommendations we are now collaborating on.
Impact Report of Recommendations; Executive Summary; Website; 2024 Grant Programme.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Research-Policy Connections 
Organisation Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution After successfully securing a tender supported by DCMS and AHRC, we have been working closely with partners DCMS to shape the future directions of their cultural heritage and climate change portfolio, following a report of recommendations this collaboration includes developing a new website to enhance communication about the cohort of projects the programme currently supports, and designing a policy-research engagement programme to sit alongside the next highlight notice advertised by Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Collaborator Contribution The Department of Culture Media and Sport have contributed funding for this programme, representatives also attended a 2-day workshop in Manchester which informed some of the research and recommendations we are now collaborating on.
Impact Report of Recommendations; Executive Summary; Website; 2024 Grant Programme.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Educational climate change workshop with school students 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact This activity happened as a part of the 2023 edition of the Educational Programme, in the school E. E. Josefina Wanderley Azeredo in Nova Lima. The activity was led by Casa Quilombê and Lucas Fabrício. This event took place on 3/05/23 and was attended by 110 students and 2 artists. The impact of the activity was that it worked towards transforming the young people's perception of the climate crisis, building self-worth and self-esteem, and stimulating the ability to find new ways to build a fairer and more sustainable world. The workshop used a variety of specific artistic methodologies using music, theatre, painting, images and body/movement to raise awareness and spark discussion about the climate crisis.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Educational climate change workshop with school students 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact This activity happened as a part of the 2023 edition of the Educational Programme, in the school E. E. João Felipe da Rocha in Nova Lima. The activity was led by Lucas Fabrício, Thiago SKP and Banda São Sebastião. This activity happened on 25/04/23, and was attended by 80 school students 16 years and over, and facilitated by 2 artists. The impact of the activity was that it worked towards transforming the young people's perception of the climate crisis, building self-worth and self-esteem, and stimulating the ability to find new ways to build a fairer and more sustainable world. The project's aim was to carry out artistic actions to debate the ways in which climate change affects food production, air and water quality and community knowledge and their cultural manifestations. This aim was achieved through educational activities focused on youth engagement and raising awareness among children about taking care of the planet and their communities by offering art education workshops, with music, theatre, painting, images and body/movement.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Educational climate change workshops with school students 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Two workshops took place on 25/4/23 as a part of the 2023 edition of the Educational Programme, in the school E. E. João Felipe da Rocha in Nova Lima. The activity was led by Lucas Fabrício, Thiago SKP and Banda São Sebastião. Workshops were attended by a total of 70 students, one with aged 13-14 year olds and one with 16 and 17 year olds, facilitated by 3-4 artists. The impact of the activity was that it worked towards transforming the young people's perception of the climate crisis, building self-worth and self-esteem, and stimulating the ability to find new ways to build a fairer and more sustainable world. The project's aim was to carry out artistic actions to debate the ways in which climate change affects food production, air and water quality and community knowledge and their cultural manifestations. This aim was achieved through educational activities focused on youth engagement and raising awareness among children about taking care of the planet and their communities by offering art education workshops, with music, theatre, painting, images and body/movement.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/en/projects/roots-of-resilience/
 
Description Educational climate crisis workshop with school students 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact This activity happened as a part of the 2023 edition of the Educational Programme, in the school E. E. Josefina Wanderley Azeredo in Nova Lima. The activity was led by Casa Quilombê and Lucas Fabrício. This activity took place on 3/05/23 and was attended by 80 students aged 13-14 years old with 2 artists facilitating the artistic workshop. The impact of the activity was that it worked towards transforming the young people's perception of the climate crisis, building self-worth and self-esteem, and stimulating the ability to find new ways to build a fairer and more sustainable world. The workshop aimed to stimulate interest and awareness about climate change specific to the context of the students and their surroundings.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Educational climate crisis workshop with school students 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact This activity happened as a part of the 2023 edition of the Educational Programme, in the school E.E Dr. Paulo Diniz Chagas in Belo Horizonte. The activity was led by Casa Quilombê and Lucas Fabrício. The event took place on 14/4/23 and was attended by 50 students.
The impact of the activity was that it worked towards transforming the young people's perception of the climate crisis, building self-worth and self-esteem, and stimulating the ability to find new ways to build a fairer and more sustainable world. The project's aim was to carry out artistic actions to debate the ways in which climate change affects food production, air and water quality and community knowledge and their cultural manifestations. This aim was achieved through educational activities focused on youth engagement and raising awareness among children about taking care of the planet and their communities by offering art education workshops, with music, theatre, painting, images and body/movement.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/en/projects/roots-of-resilience/
 
Description Educational climate crisis workshops with school students 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact These educational workshops took place across April and May 2023 as a part of the 2023 edition of the Educational Programme, at Comunidade Quilombola de Marinhos in Brumadinho. Workshop 1. took place on 6/05/23 and was ran by Casa Quilombê, Lucas Fabrício, Thiago SKP and Banda São Sebastião. It was attended by 35 school students aged 15 years and over. Workshop 2. took place on 13/04/23 in the school E.E. Padre Machado in Brumadinho. The activity was led by Banda São Sebastião and Thiago SKP. It was attended by students aged 10-11 years old. Workshop 3. took place on 13/4/23 in the school E.M. Beatriz Pampulini in Brumadinho. The activity was led by Banda São Sebastião and Thiago SKP and was attended by 15 students. Workshop 4. took place on 12/04/23 in the school E.M. Padre Vicente Assunção in Brumadinho. The activity was led by Casa Quilombê and Banda São Sebastião and attended by 70 students.

The impact of the activity was that it worked towards transforming the young people's perception of the climate crisis, building self-worth and self-esteem, and stimulating the ability to find new ways to build a fairer and more sustainable world. The project's aim was to carry out artistic actions to debate the ways in which climate change affects food production, air and water quality and community knowledge and their cultural manifestations. This aim was achieved through educational activities focused on youth engagement and raising awareness among children about taking care of the planet and their communities by offering art education workshops, with music, theatre, painting, images and body/movement.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/en/projects/roots-of-resilience/
 
Description Educational climate crisis workshops with school students in Itabira. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Four educational workshops took place in Itabira as part of the 2023 edition of the Educational Programme. Workshop 1. took place on 11/4/23 in the school E.M. Antônio Camilo Alvim in Itabira. The activity was led by Casa Quilombê, Lucas Fabrício and Thiago SKP. It was attended by 250 students. Workshop 2. took place on 11/4/23 in the school E.M. Alice Martins Fontes in Itabira. The activity was led by Casa Quilombê, Lucas Fabrício and Thiago SKP. It was attended by 80 students aged 4-10 years old. Workshop 3. took place on 10/4/23 in the school E.M. Dona Inês Torres in Itabira. The activity was led by Casa Quilombê, Lucas Fabrício and Thiago SKP. It was attended by 180 students aged 4-8 years old. Workshop 4. took place on 10/4/23 in the school E.M. Marina Bragança de Mendonça in Itabira. The activity was led by Casa Quilombê, Lucas Fabrício and Thiago SKP. It was attended by 60 students.

The impact of the activity was that it worked towards transforming the young people's perception of the climate crisis, building self-worth and self-esteem, and stimulating the ability to find new ways to build a fairer and more sustainable world. The project's aim was to carry out artistic actions to debate the ways in which climate change affects food production, air and water quality and community knowledge and their cultural manifestations. This aim was achieved through educational activities focused on youth engagement and raising awareness among children about taking care of the planet and their communities by offering art education workshops, with music, theatre, painting, images and body/movement. Each workshop was informed by the specific urban/rural context of the school itself.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/en/projects/roots-of-resilience/
 
Description Research and Scoping Visit to Belém in the Amazon Legal 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Building on the original research commissioned by the AHRC/DCMS, in March 2024, the research team organised a partnership development and scoping visit to Bélem in the Amazon Legal, to support the development of a programme to extend cultural heritage and climate change research in the lead-up to COP30 in Belém (Brazil) [November 2025]. The original research brought together academics/artists/activists/cultural heritage stakeholders in the Brazilian Iron Quadrangle and identified an urgent need to build capacity in the cultural sector, engage the public, and coordinate and disseminate research findings. The recommendations from PPP's DCMS/AHRC-commissioned report (2023) will inform a new funding programme to be launched in April 2024 and in preparation this engagement scoping visit was undertaken to establish new partnerships with HEIs, Indigenous activists and cultural institutions in one or more of Brazil's 9 Amazonian states ahead of COP30.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Screening of 'VALE?' film 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Premiere of "VALE?" in Rio de Janeiro. After the exhibition, participants engaged in a discussion that questioned how culture and artists can work in alliance with local communities in order to fight against the threats imposed by mining activities in Minas Gerais. Three of the five artists who were a part of the documentary were present on this event, contributing to the discussions that arose during the debate. This event took place on 24/05/23.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/en/projects/roots-of-resilience/
 
Description Screening of 'VALE?' film 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact As part of the RoR research project, in 2023 we launched the documentary 'Vale?' directed by Marcelo Barbosa (Indianara, 2019. Mubi) and PPP's artistic director Paul Heritage. This is the first film in Brazil about the collapse of a mining dam that killed almost 300 people in Brumadinho, to focus on the impact of this tragedy on the arts and culture of this region. Its premier took place in the affected area of Minas Gerais with screenings in Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto and Brumadinho, and later in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and London, followed by a conversation about the crime. 26 people attended this screening of the film 'VALE?' during the visit of 4 professors from Loyola University (Chicago) who produce documentaries (and are interested in environmental issues). The film was shown alongside the documentary by Prof. Adriano de Medeiros from the Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP) Journalism course, "Today is still yesterday at Bento". Held at Cine Vila Rica, associated with UFOP. The screening sparked conversations with attendees about the crime and the context of the film, as well as engaging documentary makers who create films about environmental issues to spark interest in future projects. The event took place on 05/06/23.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/en/projects/roots-of-resilience/
 
Description Screening of 'VALE?' film 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The film was shown after an event involving embroiderers in the region, together with the film "Quilt of Patchwork", with the aim of socially contextualizing the region of Minas Gerais. The event was held at Cine Vila Rica, associated with UFOP (Federal University of Ouro Preto). The event took place on 27/05/23
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://peoplespalaceprojects.org.uk/en/projects/roots-of-resilience/
 
Description Talk for British Council's EUNIC delegation on Future Directions for UK Cultural Heritage and Climate Change Research 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact This was a discussing for representatives from British Council's Global Research and Insights Team, Cultural Heritage Protection Fund and attendees participating in the EUNIC delegation, which included head of the Maltese and Ukrainian Arts Council's.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Talk for QMUL's Policy Associates on Future Directions for UK Cultural Heritage and Climate Change Research 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Presentation for QMUL's Policy Associates on People's Palace Projects research and programme of work with the AHRC-DCMS on the future directions of UK cultural heritage and climate change research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Workshop Exploring AHRC-DCMS Cultural Heritage and Climate Change Portfolio 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Research team facilitated a workshop exploring research teams experiences of being part of AHRC-DCMS's Cultural Heritage and Climate Change portfolio. It also included explorations of potential future directions for UK research in this area and offered an opportunity for other research teams to present their research to policy-makers from DCMS and British Council.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023