At a time of increasing pressure on our water systems, a new microfestival will showcase environmental artists exploring the wonder of our waterscapes, collaborating with scientists, and telling stories of the work being done to increase water system resilience.
Ripple Effects takes place at Exeter's Barnfield Theatre on Tuesday 10 February and is produced by artist and senior lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Exeter, Ellen Wiles, in partnership with the Northcott Theatre.
The microfestival is part of Ellen's residency at the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW), a joint venture between South West Water and the University of Exeter which is researching some of the most important challenges faced by the water sector today.
Ellen said: "Water is making headlines more than ever before. There is unprecedented pressure on water system resilience caused by multiple factors including extraction and climate change.
"The challenges can seem overwhelming, but there is a vast amount of inspiring work being done to research and improve our water systems, increasingly through nature-based solutions, and a myriad of untold stories to be shared.
"Our new microfestival celebrates the powerful contribution of the arts and showcases leading environmental artists who focus on water and our water systems, often in collaboration with scientists, working across an array of forms and media including film, sound, music, performance art, poetry and nature beatboxing."
Ripple Effects will feature watery work from a curated line-up of artists, including:
• 2pm – Aquatic walking and deep listening workshop by the River Exe led by acclaimed artist Kathy Hinde.
• 5pm – Microsymposium at the Barnfield Theatre with leading artists and water scientists, including Professors Richard Brazier and Ceri Lewis, featuring a round table followed by informal discussion and ideas-sharing session.
• 7pm – Performance showcase at the Barnfield Theatre spanning sound, music, film, poetry and live art, and featuring leading South West artists including Jason Singh, Kathy Hinde, John Wedgwood Clarke, and Arun Sood.
Carolyn Cadman, South West Water's Chief Sustainability and Natural Resources Officer said: "The rainfall and flooding that we've experienced in recent weeks – due to factors from climate change and increases in population impacting the use of storm overflows – serve as prominent reminders of the fragility of our water systems and the need to increase resilience for the future.
"Environmental artists and events like Ripple Effects bring people together from a range of professional and academic backgrounds to consider future solutions from new perspectives, informed by the latest scientific and environmental research."
Professor Richard Brazier, Director of CREWW at the University of Exeter, said: "By engaging with water systems issues such as growing demand for clean water, wastewater management, microplastics and river restoration, artists are increasingly creating art informed by scientific and environmental research which in turn will inspire positive action and solutions."
