The €2 million resource will support projects which connect artists with researchers, scientists, and communities to make real changes in their everyday lives to fight climate change.

An ambitious target

The Government’s Climate Action Bill 2021 has set a target of 51% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, and meeting this ambitious target will impact every citizen, perhaps nowhere more so than in the agricultural sector. Agriculture accounts for more than 30% of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions, and pressure is mounting on the farming sectors to reduce their overall carbon footprint.

Working with the local farming community, Corca Dhuibhne Inbhuanaithe aims to support the transition to environmentally and economically sustainable farming on the Dingle Peninsula. Corca Dhuibhne Inbhuanaithe launched an open call seeking an artist who will be embedded into the farming community to enable participants to imagine a low-carbon farming future. In December 2021, the appointed artist was announced as Lisa Fingleton. Lisa, in her role as Embedded Artist, is very much looking forward to engaging with the local farming community over the next year, creatively exploring how farming can play an important role in acting on the climate emergency.

The project will be managed by Corca Dhuibhne Creativity & Innovation Hub, in collaboration with the Green Arts Initiative in Ireland (GAII) and MaREI (The Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine). 

Working together for change

Corca Dhuibhne Creativity & Innovation Hub has sought to support the local farming community to become more environmentally sustainable since its inception, and was instrumental in the establishment of the West Kerry Dairy Farmers’ SEC. All involved are keenly aware of barriers inhibiting farmers from becoming more sustainable and seek to address this through the medium of creativity.

As part of the project, the selected artist or artists, along with the participating farmers, will take part in a capacity-building programme of events which will include visits to renewable energy initiatives, MaREI offices, sustainable enterprises, anaerobic digestion facilities, and farms that have diversified to combat climate change.  

This project aims to leave a legacy that will inspire other farming communities outside of the peninsula to make changes to their farming practices in ways that will combat climate change and reduce GHG emissions.

Find out more about the Creative Climate Action Fund projects.