Learn how to unleash your creative potential and harness it for climate action with this ClimArts Lab
Well-Being in a Warming World
Catalyse your creativity into climate action with our upcoming ClimArts Lab on climate change and human health!
Unleash your creative potential to tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time. Join Well-Being in a Warming World, an interactive, deep-dive ClimArts Lab designed to elevate your climate storytelling skills.
Over two weekends, you’ll collaborate with climate experts and fellow artists to explore how climate change impacts human health and well-being—and how your creative practice can drive awareness and action.
Weekend 1: June 12 - 15, 2024
Mornings EST / Afternoons CET / Evenings IST
Weekend 2: June 20 - 22, 2025
Mornings EST / Afternoons CET / Evenings IST
Cost: $150 USD
Apply by Saturday, 17 May for 10% off the full program price
Telling the Climate and Health Story Through Art
Climate change isn’t just environmental—it’s a growing threat to human health. From heatwaves and food insecurity to anxiety and displacement, its impacts are deeply personal and disproportionately harm the most vulnerable. Yet data alone rarely drives action.
This Lab equips you to become more effective climate storytellers. Through science-backed insights and creative sessions, you'll learn to translate complex science, health, and climate data into emotionally resonant, solution-focused narratives—moving beyond doom and into clarity, connection, and impact.
Harness the power of your creative expression:
Communicate climate science in accessible, compelling ways
Spotlight real people and communities affected by climate-related illness and the deployable solutions
Create stories that spark collaboration, resilience, and action
What you’ll learn
Climate change is a public health emergency. It pollutes our air, contaminates our water, disrupts our food supply, and even threatens our homes.
In this lab, you'll explore how a warming planet impacts both physical and mental health—from heat-related illnesses and asthma to anxiety and trauma. We also focus on climate justice, examining why these impacts fall hardest on marginalised communities and how elevating those voices leads to equitable solutions.
Through expert insights and creative storytelling techniques, you’ll gain the tools to:
-
✺
Understand the connections between climate change and human health
-
❃
Examine the effects on families, communities, and ecosystems
-
✦
Develop impactful stories that raise awareness and spark collaboration
-
❂
Become part of our culture of climate communication that is solutions-focused, emotionally resonant, and evidence-based
Why join?
Expert-Led, Interdisciplinary Learning
Learn directly from climate scientists and experienced artists who bring their unique perspectives to climate storytelling.
Action-Oriented, Real-World Impact
You’ll walk away with the practical tools and skills to use your art to drive climate action —ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all.
Interactive, Collaborative Experience
Participate in hands-on sessions with peers and mentors to tackle real-world challenges.
Program details
WEEKEND ONE
The first weekend focuses on building a strong foundation: understanding climate change within the broader context of the polycrisis, learning key scientific terms to support collaboration with researchers, and exploring the principles of climate communication and storytelling—especially how different audiences interpret climate messages.
-
12 June, Thursday | 10:00 (ET) / 16:00 (CEST) / 19:30 (IST)
Orientation & Networking
Kick off the ClimArts Lab by learning more about the program and engaging in a dynamic networking session with fellow participants. This is your chance to connect, share your expectations, and get familiar with the collaborative journey ahead.
13 June, Friday | 09:30 (ET) / 15:30 (CEST) / 19:00 (IST)
Session 1: Mini Keynote Session
This powerful session features a keynote address from an established artist or expert, sharing their unique perspective on the global polycrisis. You’ll gain insights into the intersection of climate change, social justice, and the creative process. The session includes a 15-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute Q&A.
Session 2: Climate Justice and the Polycrisis, led by Abhayraj Naik
Build your foundation by exploring the interconnected challenges that make up the climate crisis. This session will unpack the complexities of climate justice and the broader polycrisis, helping you understand the global predicament through the lens of storytelling.
14 June, Saturday | 09:30 (ET) / 15:30 (CEST) / 19:00 (IST)
Session 1: Climate Science Basics, led by Dr Indu Murthy
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the principles and evidence behind climate science. This session will equip you with the foundational knowledge necessary for communicating complex climate issues effectively in your creative work.
Session 2: ClimArts Artist Perspective, led by Hana Melese Maru
Discover how art can play a pivotal role in communicating climate change. Hana will share her personal journey and the creative strategies she uses to address climate issues through her artistic expression
15 June, Sunday | 09:30 (ET) / 15:30 (CEST) / 19:00 (IST)
Climate Storytelling and Audience, led by Tara Bryer
Discover how audiences perceive climate stories in media and gain insights to shape climate messages that nudge meaningful action.
WEEKEND TWO
The second weekend brings together science, public health, and lived experience from leading experts. Through a variety of case-studies and examples - rural and urban, global and local, you discover the deep and varied impacts climate change has on our health and solutions to the problems. This part of the lab is aimed at sparking ideas and insights for artistic response.
-
20 June, Friday | 09:30 (ET) / 15:30 (CEST) / 19:00 (IST)
Extreme Heat in a Changing Climate, led by Dr. Neven S. Fučkar
Learn how humidity combined with heat is so different. Explore how extreme heat affects the body—raising risks for cardiovascular stress, kidney disease, sleep disorders, and mortality. Learn how artists can translate data and lived experiences of heat into creative work, with examples drawn from across regions.
21 June, Saturday | 09:30 (ET) / 15:30 (CEST) / 19:00 (IST)
Mental Health in a Changing Climate, led by Dinesh Bhugra
Led by a psychiatrist, this session unpacks how climate change worsens mental illness and exacerbates psychiatric vulnerability—especially among displaced communities, young people, and those already at the margins of care. Participants will learn key terminology, hear case studies, and explore how art can illuminate these under-recognized dimensions of climate impact.
ClimArts Artist Perspective, led by Sakdiyah Maruf
Gain a deeper understanding of how artistic expression can be used to tackle climate issues. Sakdiyah will share her perspective on integrating climate narratives into creative practice.22 June, Sunday | 09:30 (ET) / 15:30 (CEST) / 19:00 (IST)
Food Systems in a Changing Climate, led by Kyle Davis
What is a food system and what does it have to do with our changing climate? From crop failures to cultural loss, climate change is reshaping our food systems and what lands on our plates. This session unpacks the connections between food insecurity, health, and ecological disruption—and invites creative responses rooted in memory, justice, and nourishment.
Closing Ceremony
At the end of the Lab, we’ll celebrate our collective journey during the ClimArts Monthly Community Meet. This closing ceremony is a chance to celebrate the creative work and connections you have built, share insights, and reflect on the powerful climate stories you’re now ready to tell!
Learn from domain experts, not generalists
Each learning session is led by a specialist with deep, real-world experience in their field. Our programming brings university professionals, scholars, and industry leaders together during two weekends to inspire and equip artists for climate action.
-
Dr. Indu Murthy
Sector Head - Climate, Environment and Sustainability at CSTEP
-
Dr. Neven S. Fučkar
Climate and Data Scientist, University of Oxford
-
Dinesh Bhugra
Professor Emeritus of Mental Health and Cultural Diversity at King’s College London
What previous students say
Apply now
It all starts here. We’d love to learn more about you—your work, your creative practice, and what’s drawing you to join our program.
-
The program is designed for visual and performance artists, but a significant number of literary artists, film-makers, multi-media artists have also participated and benefited from our programs. If you have a creative practice, we encourage you to apply.
-
Financial assistance is available on a needs basis. Once accepted into the program, you will have the opportunity to apply for a reduced program fee.
-
We do not offer refunds at this time.
-
Yes. Almost all sessions are delivered live online, and are also recorded. To begin your journey, attending the orientation is strongly encouraged. If you miss it due to a valid reason, you must watch the recording before attending your first session. Recordings will be made available for later reference, but live attendance is essential to get the most from the program.
-
We carefully review your application and communicate our decision via email.
Have some questions?
-
Most sessions run between 60 and 75 minutes. You’ll receive a detailed schedule with confirmed times and dates once you're accepted into the program.
-
We expect participants to attend all sessions live, as active engagement with instructors and peers is central to the experience. However, we understand that emergencies happen. Missing a session won’t disqualify you, but we trust you’ll make every effort to attend live and keep up with recordings as needed.
-
Yes! Join the ClimArts community for ongoing networking, beyond the program. As an alumni and community member, you will receive invites to ClimArts events, learn of new opportunities, connect with like-minded artists and climate experts. You can also apply for a place in the ClimArts Studio, at the end of your program.
-
You will have the choice to present your idea and share with us at the closing ceremony. Details of how to present will be shared on the day of your orientation. For past participants, visit climarts.org/studio
Who is ClimArts and what’s our mission?
We empower artists and climate experts to become impactful storytellers.
Storytelling, enhanced through art, is a powerful tool for climate communication. It simplifies complexity, fosters connection, and inspires urgency. ClimArts empowers storytellers—individually and collaboratively—to create works that amplify climate narratives, driving understanding, connection, and action.
Ready to join us? Here is how it works.
6 Weeks to start: Admissions open. Your application is reviewed by our selection committee. We review your background and motivation to join the program.
3 Weeks to start: Primary applicant review period. You’re notified via email of your acceptance or rejection into the program.
2 Weeks to start: The full payment (or partial payment) is due to secure your spot in the program.
1 Week to start: Admissions close and participants receive final details.
One low price, lasting impact.
Our programs offer one low price. What is included?
> Over 6 specialised topics on well-being, health, and climate action by leading experts.
> Recorded sessions to individual topics.
> Individual materials and resources to support your learning.
> Free access to our ClimArts community to foster collaborations.