Art and Culture

The climate crisis demands not only policy change but a profound cultural transformation. Art and cultural works are essential tools for inspiring, connecting, and mobilizing people around a shared vision of a just and resilient future. By engaging our imaginations and emotions, art and cultural works can help us break down barriers, foster empathy, and build powerful momentum for climate action.

Throughout history, social movements have relied on art and cultural works to galvanize support, raise awareness, and challenge the status quo. From the civil rights movement's powerful songs and poetry to the feminist movement's groundbreaking art and literature, cultural works have often propelled social change. By amplifying marginalized voices, celebrating diversity, and creating shared experiences, art and cultural works can help us build a more grounded, inclusive, and equitable climate movement.

At the Michigan Climate Action Network, we are committed to centering art and cultural works as part of our work. By integrating creative activities and expressions with our campaigns, events, and outreach efforts, we can inspire and empower more people to take action on climate change. We support artists and cultural workers, amplify their voices, and create spaces for dialogue and collaboration. Examples of this can be seen through our community art builds at our 2023 and 2024 Michigan Climate Summit, as well as our ongoing Climate Culture Club Program.

As a part of MiCAN’s 20-Year Vision Statement, our goal is to inspire durable cultural shifts that lead to a more just, equitable, resilient, and sustainable future for all Michiganders. Creativity, the arts, and artists will help us all imagine and work towards a future we could all be proud of. Together, we will make this future irresistible.