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Date: 2020 - 2022

Location: Australia + UK

Project: Multifaceted Programme

Partners: British Council, Bundanon, Cabot Institute for the Environment

Supporters: Artsmark, Bristol Botanic Garden, Real Ideas Organisation, The Royal Astronomical Society

British Council 21-22 Season: The UK/Australia Season 2021-2022 is a joint initiative by the British Council and the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It will highlight the breadth of partnerships between Australia and the UK and aim to deepen and build cultural connections. The Season will explore and celebrate relationships between the UK and Australia across the arts, creative industries and higher education. The Season’s programme will have a thematic approach, with all projects and initiatives responding to the question, Who Are We Now?

We are delighted to present our project, CONFLUENCE, as part of the of the British Council’s Official UK / Australia Season, which is a joint initiative between the British Council and the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. PONY’s multifaceted project explores the meaning and implications of climate change across multiple viewpoints; integrating western science and Indigenous knowledge to activate a shared imagination for the future.

Through R&D, international Knowledge Exchange sessions with industry leaders (see bottom of page for video clips), an online symposium and new site responsive programming, CONFLUENCE aims to transform perspectives of place, build solidarity, and share new narratives; altering how people emotionally engage with the natural world through new site-responsive encounters, curated conversations, and digital platforms to create a more sustainable future.

Collaborating with lead partners Bundanon and the Cabot Institute for the Environment, in addition to other supporters, the programme will make connections between past, present, and future to inspire deeper understanding of the climate emergency. Disseminating the latest scientific research, Australian First Nations cultural expression and the different ways societies communicate with the natural world; and how these responses inform changing ideas about what it means to be human.

About our partners:

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We were founded in 1934 and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1940. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. We work with more than 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, the English language, education and civil society. Last year, we reached more than 80 million people directly and 791 million people overall, including online, through broadcasts and publications. britishcouncil.org

Bundanon is a place charged with inspiration. Celebrating art and ideas, Bundanon promotes the value of landscape in all our lives. The establishment of Bundanon represents one of the most significant acts of philanthropy in the history of the arts in Australia. Arthur and Yvonne Boyd’s gift of Bundanon in 1993 was driven by a big vision, which has been built upon by subsequent acts of private generosity and government support, creating the cultural institution for artistic enjoyment and learning that thrives today on the South Coast of New South Wales. Bundanon is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney. 

Located on 1000 hectares in the Australian bush, Bundanon places caring for the environment at the centre of its mission and supports innovative and responsible approaches to managing the land, providing a platform for primary research. The organisation provides immersive experiences encompassing the Boyd legacy and collection, First Nations history and the unique landscape, alongside ambitious exhibition, and engagement programs. Bundanon's dramatic new facilities, the Art Museum and Bridge for creative learning open in early 2022. bundanon.com.au

The Cabot Institute for the Environment at the University of Bristol is a diverse community of 600 experts, united by a common cause: protecting our environment and identifying ways of living better with our changing planet. bristol.ac.uk/cabot

With special thanks to: Tom Curteis, Barbara Dowse, Gary Futcher, Vicky Jones, Lucinda Offer and The Odillo Maher Family.