People’s Palace Projects, the arts organisation based at Queen Mary, and the Young Vic theatre have teamed up with the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) to hold a colloquium exploring deforestation and how the arts can help alter society’s attitude towards climate change.
‘Chico Mendes Legacy: the role of the arts in environmental activism’ takes place at the RSA on Tuesday, 13 January. The event is timed to coincide with the Young Vic’s current stage production Amazônia, inspired by cultures of the Amazon rainforest and the life and legacy of world-famous Brazilian environmentalist, Chico Mendes, who was assassinated because of his political views in December 1988.Colloquium panellists include award-winning composer, Jonathan Dove; Greenpeace’s senior climate advisor, Charlie Kronick; and iconic fashion designer and renowned activist, Dame Vivienne Westwood.Elenira Mendes, President of the Instituto Chico Mendes and daughter of Mendes, will also make a guest appearance.The debate is mediated by the director of Amazônia and artistic director of People’s Palace Projects, Paul Heritage, who is also Professor of Drama and Performance at Queen Mary, and introduced by Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the RSA.
For media information, contact: