EMPACT are pleased to announce the seminar/workshop organised by Nature, Art & Habitat Residency (NAHR), an EMPACT consortium partner, in the framework of the innovative project EMPACT – Empathy and Sustainability: The Art of Thinking like a Mountain, co-funded by the EU Creative Europe Programme (Grant Agreement No: – EMPACT – CREA-CULT-2021-COOP-2). The workshop focuses on circular economy, exploring its interconnected role between the natural world and in human activity.

The seminar/workshop will discuss the role of Empathy in bringing about the necessary change towards a more sustainable world and the importance of the arts in this effort. Art can serve as a tool through which to re-examine our relationship with our surroundings and to find ways of implementing empathy towards nature and non-human beings. The event will also set the tone for the NAHR 2023 programming, in particular for the residencies in which artist swill develop projects inspired by nature in Val Taleggio focusing on the 2023 theme:  AIR as commons, chaotic fluid and inspiration. Thereby trying to find ways in which artists and cultural organisations can effectively connect their research and production within the framework of environmental issues, empathy and sustainability in an impactful way. We will be accompanied by a wide range of specialist and cross-cutting professionals from philosophy to social sciences, natural sciences, politics, architecture, engineering, art and sustainability studies to create the most holistic approach to the issues at hand. Lastly, the workshop presents an opportunity to explore the lessons we can extract from Taleggio Valley from creating a more resilient circular economy that is in symbiosis with the local culture and ecology.

The themes for each day will be presented in a dynamic way, combining round table discussions with guided visits to the neighboring sites of interest. Topics will be distributed as follows:

• Day 1: Empathy and sustainability. The art of thinking like a mountain. Addressing the critical role of empathy and sustainability in the arts today. The discussions will focus on the role of circular economy in the arts.
• Day 2: Circular Economy En Plain Air. Taleggio Valley as an example that a regenerative and sustainable economy is possible.
• Day 3: AIR. Atmosphere & Ecosystems. The diverse and critical functions of air are seen as a source of inspiration for circular economy as well as artistic practices.

The seminar will be held in the English language.

Seminar speakers/moderators are renowned experts and professionals in the field of environment, empathy, sustainable development and arts management: Gabi Scardi, Ilaria Mazzoleni, Richard Molina, Efi Kyprianidou, Marta Pesenti, Sarah Invernizzi, Zack Reeder, Enrico Bassi, Stefano Torriani, Mauro Van Aken, Simona Presenti and Alvaro Ravasio.

The talented thought-provoking artists will also have a chase to talk about their work: Elena Mazzi, Camilla Alberti, Claudio Mustacchi and Jure Kirbis.

If you are passionate about socio-environmental sustainability and art, join us! Artists, cultural professionals, researchers, educators, students, cultural policy-makers, are all invited.  The seminar is free of charge and has limited capacity of attendance: to reserve your place, complete the registration form today: https://forms.gle/GmxLLTBou6gfosBw5 (open with Chrome web browser).

For additional information about the seminar, feel free to visit our website www.nahr.it or contact info@nahr.it.

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Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.