Writings

Dara and his mother in Hollywood Forest (2016) Photo: Cathy Fitzgerald

Good-Bye Anthropocene – Hello Symbiocene!

The first Irish signatory to #CultureDeclaresEmergency and eco-social artist, researcher and educator, Dr Cathy Fitzgerald, discusses the new era, the Symbiocene. The Symbiocene is the new epoch in human history, beyond the ecocide of the Anthropocene, in which emergent humanity celebrates and respects all life's diversity and develops new Earth-aligned intellectual and emotional features. Cathy's talk identifies that the Symbiocene can help cultural workers and others frame their work, especially ecological art practices situated in communities that help people envision new ideas, practices and values for a better, more just and beautiful world. Cathy uses the Symbiocene to help deepen understanding of her ongoing eco-social art practice: The Hollywood Forest Story - 'the little wood that could'. See hollywoodforest.com/portfolio/ongoi…d-forest-story/ Cathy was invited by Dr. Nessa Cronin, Irish Studies, National University of Galway and Professors Karen Till and Gerry Kearns, Maynooth University, Ireland to speak for the Art & Geography: Art, Activism and Social Engagement in the Age of the Capitalocene panel at the 7th EU Geo Congress in Galway, recorded 16 May 2019. Cathy wishes to acknowledge Dr Frances Fahy and Dr. Kathy Reilly (EUGEO Conference Co-Chairs and organisers for the bursary that she was awarded that enable her to attend the congress).

EUGEO 2019 Galway: Good-Bye Anthropocene – Hello Symbiocene: articulating eco-social art practices that promote ecoliteracy and agency to help us move beyond 10,000 years of ecocide

    Next week is a busy time for me in Galway. I posted last week about giving a talk about my interest in the absence of cultural policy for the environmental emergency I'm giving next Tuesday 14 May. However,  later in the week I was awarded a bursary to give a short paper also…Read more EUGEO 2019 Galway: Good-Bye Anthropocene – Hello Symbiocene: articulating eco-social art practices that promote ecoliteracy and agency to help us move beyond 10,000 years of ecocide

Cultural Climates: Fostering Art for Sustainability – Time for a New Cultural Policy? Moore Institute, Galway

Dr. Cathy Fitzgerald will be speaking with Dr Iain Biggs at a public forum and discussion on what role the arts and cultural sectors can, and need to, play in addressing the issues of ecological crisis in this a time of climate emergency. My thanks to Dr Nessa Cronin, NUIG and Prof Karen E. Till and Prof. Gerry Kearns of Maynooth University. All Welcome!