Weather Stations
Start date: Nov 24, 2013,
Weather Stations harnesses the transformative power and vision of literature to explore in the context of climate change how, as European and global citizens, we might live our lives differently. Weather Stations in Poland, Germany, UK, Ireland and Australia will host a Writer in Residence programme, providing the creative heart to the project from which a range of activities for artists, activists, philosophers, scientists and young people will flow. Throughout online communication and evaluation will inform the project. The programme will include debates, skills development, online activity and creative projects in schools and communities, festivals and literature hubs. A body of visionary new writing will emerge. Each Weather Station will establish a Sub Station in a local school or college to explore how, in a materialistic world geared to creating young consumers, do we nurture responsible young citizens with the knowledge, inspiration and tools to fight for a sustainable future. Our Australian partner provides our frontline Weather Station, beginning with a 3 week residency for writers from European Weather Stations. Here earth inspired stories from indigenous elders will mix with the voices of scientists, politicians, artists, young people, and communities experiencing first hand the impact of floods and bush fires. Over 18 months our writers will travel to each European Weather Station to share their work. In 2015 the European Sub Weather Stations will convene a Young People’s Summit in Berlin to agree and disseminate the most powerful narratives and the most effective tools to help us navigate a new future and inform a new sense of responsible European citizenship and global connection. This will be mirrored by an equivalent event in Melbourne. Alongside the Summits, all our writers will share their new work and experiences with a wide -ranging public, complete with full media attention, as part of the internationales literaturfestival berlin