The event featured thought leaders who shared how creative initiatives are driving environmental awareness and action.

• Professor Marguerite Nyhan from University College Cork, a leader in climate engagement research, highlighted the power of the arts to connect emotionally with audiences and inspire collective climate action. Her research highlights successful collaborations like Creative Ireland’s Línte na Farraigeart installation and the Field Exchange programme in County Tipperary, which have engaged communities in sustainable practices.
  
  
• Gawain Morrison’s Brink!initiative in Belfast is another fantastic example, showcasing the potential of community-driven art to transform urban spaces into creative hubs. By creating the ‘Ogham Grove’, Ireland’s largest sustainable art piece, and developing a cultural walking trail, Gawain encourages local engagement with the environment and sustainable living.
  
  
• Toby Smith of the Belfast Photo Festival discussed the role of visual storytelling in raising awareness of environmental issues. His work, which commissions photographers to capture Northern Ireland’s natural heritage, blends art and activism to inspire action and challenge perceptions of sustainability.
  
  
• Claire Murray from The Lyric Theatre shared how the theatre industry can integrate sustainability, citing the Theatre Green Book and innovations in set construction. Educational productions like Waste-Bustersempower young people to think critically about sustainability.
  
  
• Ola Hassanain, presenting virtually, explored the intersection of spatiality and urban development, urging a balance between rebuilding cities and preserving existing structures.
  
  
• Aidan Koch, through environmental comics, explained how storytelling can advocate for ecological sustainability, offering a unique perspective on environmental challenges.
  
  
• Ingrid Hess, a visiting artist at University of Massachusetts Lowell, discussed the critical role of art in shifting the narrative around climate change. By integrating art and science, Ingrid aims to engage young people in environmental advocacy and foster a love for nature. She also highlighted the importance of reducing consumption, citing her work on ocean plastic and sustainability-focused projects for children in Belfast.

The afternoon session of 'Arts Power' took place in Queen’s CaptureLab.

• 'Shrine to Falling Microbes' – a 3D virtual environment and generative animation presented by artist Misha Rabinovich– honours lost or declining microbes. Using Three.js, it highlights the importance of microbial and cultural diversity, with virtual shrines to microbes like Bifidobacterium longumand Oxalobacter formigenes.
  
  
• Síofra Caherty, Founder of Jump the Hedges, established her sustainable design studio in Belfast out of a need for ethically produced yoga mat bags. In her contribution to 'Arts Power' she shared her deep-rooted passion for fashion and eco-conscious practices. Síofra specialises in creating high-quality, unique bags crafted from reclaimed materials such as truck tarpaulin and plane seat fabric, collected from various locations across Ireland. Each bag is thoughtfully created in her small workshop, showcasing her commitment to both sustainability and exceptional craftsmanship.
  
  
• MK Foster – a Fulbright-Queen’s University Belfast Scholar Award recipient in Creative Writing– presented her work on 'Natural Histories, Natural Futures: Critical-Creative Methodologies for Climate Arts, Advocacy, and Education’. In her talk, Foster shared her approach as a critical creative, highlighting her belief that sustainability is fundamentally about the stories we tell. Drawing from her experience working on various critical creative projects, she highlighted the power of storytelling in addressing environmental challenges. With a diverse portfolio of poetry and creative works, her current project, ARKBIRD (also known as The Raven’s Wife), delves into the intersection of flood research and epic storytelling.
  
  
• Professor Alistair Payne, Dean of the Faculty of Creative and Performing Arts and Media at Munster Technological University, discussed how sustainability is embedded in the university's curriculum through the integration of the three pillars of sustainability – socio-ecological, eco-economic, and socio-economic. He highlighted how MTU incorporates the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its programmes, fostering a collective effort through its 'Shared Vision’. Payne stressed the importance of research, innovation, and global outlooks, alongside collaborative sustainability projects. Advocating for artistic research, he emphasised the need for art to be taught as a collaborative process that engages students with real-world issues, viewing art as a transformative force for resistance and societal change.
  
  These talks as part of ‘Arts Power’ showcased how creativity can be a powerful tool for climate action, inspiring audiences to rethink their relationship with the environment and take meaningful steps towards sustainability.