Seven artists have been selected by CO2RE to create projects inspired by Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR). This initiative, supported by UKRI, aims to engage the public in understanding GGR's potential through various artistic media.
Natasha Martirosian, a Research Associate at CO2RE, stated: "Our hopes for CO2RE Arts expand beyond the projects we’ve funded, as CO2RE believes science and engineering, including their conceptualisation, design and delivery, as well as innovations that follow, are cultural practices. Meaning that artists, creative practitioners and the arts and humanities have a key role to play in their delivery. This initiative will help bring those contributions together to move forward our understanding and use of GGR."
The chosen artists will develop diverse projects such as a residential film school, animation, VR interactive landscapes, a sci-fi podcast series, biochar sculptures, land art pieces, bio-luminescent algae installations, and performance pieces in peatlands. Martirosian also noted: "When we began planning the initiative, we were hoping for a few applicants to fulfil the call. We had no idea the scale, depth and breadth of the project proposals we would encounter."
The projects aim to serve as templates for future partnerships and funding opportunities integrating arts into research. The selected artists will work with environmental scientists and engage with the public through exhibitions in 2026.
Highlighted projects include Studio Blue Green's algal installation "Phycologica," Ben Weaver-Hincks' sci-fi podcast series "Pathways: A Possible Futures Podcast," Billie Ireland's biochar sculptures project "Sculpting Biochar for Creative Greenhouse Gas Removal," James Price's documentary film-school project "Ffilm School," Miranda Whall's peatland performance piece "For When Peat Speaks," Selina Wagner’s animated folktale "The Day We Cleaned the Sky," and Yambe Tam’s VR experience "The Rite of the Ten Winds."