The British Council, in partnership with the University of Guanajuato, presents a two-day symposium, specially curated by Julie’s Bicycle for the 53rd edition of Festival Cervantino, taking place on 16th and 17th October 2025. The programme features leading artists and cultural practitioners who place nature, climate, and the environment at the heart of their work. Through in-depth talks and participatory workshops, musicians, designers, theatre-makers, visual artists, and organisations from Mexico and the UK will share meaningful ways in which they are showing up for creative climate action. Together, they represent an emergent, shape-shifting, constantly evolving creative community—one that recognises the climate and ecological crises we face and the urgent need to respond in every way we can. Speakers and workshop facilitators will share the multitude of ways in which their creativity is inspiring meaningful change across multiple levels: from messaging and education to policy and practice. Through new insights, audiences will be invited to actively participate and reflect on how they can unleash their own creativity and roles within their communities to inspire action.
The programme explores a range of themes, including:
- What it means for a creative community to be deeply embedded in the current state of our ecological systems
- Innovative creative solutions in response to growing environmental challenges
- How artists are working at the intersection of climate, racial, and social justice
- The role of national cultural institutions and festivals in adapting to rapid global movements and driving positive change
- The power of outdoor arts to educate, galvanise the public, and shift behaviours
- Bridging the gap between culture and climate policy, from circular economy models to regenerative approaches
- Community-led practices and practical visions to reduce the environmental impact of the cultural sector
Speakers include: Brian Eno, Tori Tsui, Love Ssega, Amir Nizar Zuabi (The Herds), Cathy Runciman (Earth Percent), Immy Kaur (Civic Square), Jane Withers, Pauline Bourdon, Keir Oldfield-Lewis (British Film Institute), Zoe Rasbash (Watershed & Shado), Mariana Baldera (Isla Urbana), Lucia Giulia Cavalchini ( Festival Ambulante), Paco Ayala (Huerto Roma Verde), Ricardo Lozano (What Design Can Do MX) Mariam Akinlolu (London Metropolitan University), Angela Castellanos (Universidad de Sinaloa),Graciela Melitsko Thornton (Julie’s Bicycle), Taghrid Choucair- Vizoso (Julie’s Bicycle), among others.
Artists, students, cultural practitioners, producers, curators, organisations and anyone who wants to learn about how culture is responding to the climate crisis is invited to attend this unique exchange.
This event is presented by the British Council, in collaboration with the University of Guanajuato and the Cervantino Festival.