Staging Climate Action: Dialogic Arts Activism for Climate Justice in SA

Project overview

Through the IAA-funded project Staging Climate Action: Dialogic Arts Activism for Climate Justice in South Africa, Professor Aylwyn Walsh (School of Performance and Cultural Industries) worked with Professor Paul Routledge (School of Geography) and South Africa–based Well Worn Theatre Company to explore how arts activism can support climate justice mobilisation, education and capacity-building. The project placed particular emphasis on the role of creative practice within South African climate justice movements, especially among young activists and community organisers. 

Building on Walsh and Routledge’s earlier collaborative research, the project sought to generate evidence on the use of creative and performative approaches in climate justice campaigns. While initially designed as a single intensive workshop, the project grew in ambition and reach through strong partnerships and additional support by Well Worn Theatre Company, enabling sustained engagement across multiple events in and around Johannesburg. 

Activities

Key activities included a series of climate arts activism gatherings and workshops that brought together climate justice activists, artists and organisers to share experiences, map place-based climate and social justice issues, and collectively reflect on how arts approaches can mobilise, educate and generate visibility for campaigns. These activities supported skills development, peer learning and strategic planning for future arts-led climate justice work. The team documented the sessions through graphic notetaking, baseline data collection and audiovisual materials. 

Impact

A significant output of the project was support for the filming of WWTC’s performance Burning Rebellion, developed in collaboration with Amehlo Films. Since its online launch in late November, the film has attracted over 850 views, extending the reach of the work beyond live performance audiences. The project also included a public panel discussion, The Artist as Activist, hosted at the French Institute in Johannesburg, which explored the role of art and performance in social movements within South Africa’s long tradition of cultural resistance. 

Further outputs include a podcast series led by Professor Routledge as part of The Dissent Dispatches: Voices of Global Rebellion, produced with Chapel FM in East Leeds, with additional episodes planned for release in 2026. 

Future plans

The project has laid strong foundations for future collaboration, including a co-authored academic article on arts activism and climate justice movements in South Africa, an impact report for WWTC, and ongoing discussions around future funding.  

Project team

Professor Aylwyn Walsh (School of Performance and Cultural Industries) 

Professor Emeritus Paul Routledge (School of Geography) 

Well Worn Theatre Company 

East Leeds Community Radio (ELCR)