The Visual Arts on a Heating Planet

About the event:
This roundtable, convened by Silvia Vittonatto (UCL) and Daniel Finch-Race (University of Bologna), brings together artists and scholars to explore the role of the arts in responding to the accelerating climate crisis. Addressing the intersections of artistic practice, ecological grief, and environmental action, the event is part of The Stampede for the Arts on a Heating Planet, a collaborative initiative taking place across UCL from 26–28 June 2025 to mark the arrival of THE HERDS in London.

About the Speakers:

Alice Cunningham is a sculptor and visual artist whose work explores the intersections of climate, landscape, and public engagement. Alice has created numerous public artworks across the UK and Europe, often collaborating with scientific and environmental institutions. Her practice is deeply rooted in site-specific responses, environmental research, and community participation. Recent projects with the British Art Network, Royal West of England Academy, and Super Culture reflect her commitment to using art as a tool for climate dialogue and social connection.

Dr Robert Mead is a painter and researcher. Led by field work, he explores changing landscapes and lost places, binding together imagery and memories with found colours, created through processes of harvesting and making pigments.

The event is supported by UCL Anthropocene and is open to the public.

About THE HERDS

THE HERDS is a new project from The Walk Productions, creators of The Extraordinary Journeys of Little Amal. It is a groundbreaking public art and climate initiative designed to inspire action and renew our bond with the natural world. From April to August 2025, life-size puppet animals will sweep through city centres on a 20,000km journey from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle, fleeing climate disaster.

Accessibility

If you have any accessibility requirements you would like to discuss, please email: emma.hart@ucl.ac.uk.

The IAS Common Ground is completely accessible to wheelchair users and those with limited mobility from street level.

Finding us

We are located in Bloomsbury, in the heart of central London. The nearest tube stations are Euston Square (Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City), Goodge Street (Northern Line), Warren Street (Victoria Line), and buses 18, 30, 73, 134 and 205 stop 3-5 minutes away on Euston Road.

Photograph by Ahmet Sali