Art for Democracy in Climate Action

forthcoming

CLIMART-D aims to produce and circulate participatory digital artworks that respond to the question: Why do we need democracy in climate action? By bringing together young artists from Germany, Italy and Portugal, it seeks to promote public dialogue on the intersection of democracy and climate action through creative expressions. Designed to reflect the core characteristics of democracy, CLIMART-D embraces diversity in multiple forms. Along with the artistic production processes, the artworks to be produced will have a participatory character, inviting the public to engage not only as viewers but as active contributors to their development. The Deep Democracy (DD) methodologies play a central role in shaping both the artistic process and the final artworks. By allowing the inclusion of objections in collective decision-making, DD ensures that even dissenting voices and perspectives that fall outside group consensus can be integrated into the creative outcome. As a result, the final artworks will not only reflect the collective vision of the capsules but also incorporate expressions of disagreement and alternative viewpoints, demonstrating democracy’s ability to accommodate complexity and conflict. The project unfolds through a structured sequence of activities, including general meetings, training, mentorship, and collaborative artistic production, culminating in participatory physical exhibitions across four partner countries and at an online platform. Thus, CLIMART-D offers a compelling model for how democratic participation can be reimagined and reinvigorated through collaborative artmaking—fostering more just and resilient responses to our shared environmental challenges.