Art and Energy are teaming up with Far Flung CIC and Sewcial Guild to bring two moss inspired creative performances to Theatre Royal Plymouth on Thursday 31st October 2024.

Featuring performers from Far Flung CIC and costumes made by Sewcial Guild and inspired by Art and Energy’s The Mossy Carpet and A Mossy Story.

The event will be open 12.30 - 4pm and performances will be at 1pm and 3pm.

Find us in The Nook, a pop up library space upstairs in Theatre Royal Plymouth.

This event is free of charge but booking is essential.

Please note that children under the age of 14 must be always accompanied by an adult.

Further details and the booking link.

Find out more about the wider week of activities at Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Plymouth Culture and Art and Energy are partnering for a second year to bring creative practitioners and arts organisations together to explore how culture can take action for a brighter greener future.

This time we will create the “Let’s Change Culture Group” that will meet for five co-designed, facilitated sessions to explore collective and individual actions for change. Art & Energy and local experts will engage the group in a chosen topic which will evolve session by session.

All sessions will be held from 10:30-12:30 at The Sustainable Earth Institute at The University of Plymouth. Please see below the dates and themes

• 13th September - Creating environmental action plans and policies

• 18th October - Environmentally engaged creative practice - some best practices

• 22nd November - What is eco-anxiety and crisis fatigue and how does it impact your work?

• 24th January - Sharing how you report on and tell environmental stories

• 14th February - Considering how we can embed climate awareness and action in our teams and audiences

All sessions will be an opportunity to learn from each other and best practices. If you/your organisation is in an advanced stage of the themes above, you’re very welcome to bring and share your experience with the group.

If you are interested in joining these sessions, sign up here https://bit.ly/3MlTYax

Finding Common Cause: collaborative approaches to delivery on common land.

As well as sustaining a thousand years of living cultural heritage, commons have a vital role to play in addressing biodiversity and climate crisis. But commons are complex, contested, multi-interest spaces, where typical approaches to conservation can falter.

Through the Our Upland Commons project, the Foundation for Common Land and others have been developing people-centred, collaborative approaches to unlock commons’ potential for nature recovery, flood management and carbon sequestration.

This conference brings together key voices from commoning and conservation, to look towards an uncertain future, to share and explore collective approaches to the challenges we face. The conference will help shape the future work of FCL and others working on commons, as well as giving you practical insights that will help your organisation, common or farm business.

The day will comprise off a mix of panel talks, short lectures and workshops. The day will be start from 9:30am, opening speeches will be at 10am. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Art and Energy’s Naomi Wright will host a Mossy Carpet workshop:

Creative collaborations on Dartmoor commons with The Art and Energy Collective.

A workshop to explore how creative engagement can help tell the story of the commons.

Naomi Wright describes ‘How to Bury the Giant in Moss and Moor’, a project with its origins on the commons of Dartmoor. She will include stories from collaborations, events and activities on Dartmoor including The Mossy Carpet mass participation artwork and small moss-scale restoration and repair with local schools and community groups.

There will be an opportunity to get hands-on with fleece and sphagnum, and make some small restorative mossy blankets, as well as add your voice to the Mossy Carpet.

This event has been made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Mossy Carpet – Discover and Make!

Saturday 12 October, 10.00 a.m.–12.00 p.m. and 1.00 p.m.–3.00 p.m., Wells Cathedral Education Room

Did you know that mosses are climate superheroes? Join us on a mossy adventure when we’ll learn about this tiny but hugely important plant.

Watch a short film, look at mosses under the lens and get creative with wool to help us make a mossy carpet! Suitable for all ages and abilities.

Admission; Free with adult entry to the Cathedral; Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Only assistance dogs are allowed at this activity.

More details can be found here.

Art and Energy and The Mossy Carpet will be part of the Futures: A Festival of Discovery, pop-up Curiousity Shop of Science & Culture on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September.

Drop in any time for free family friendly creative activities, 10am - 2.30pm.

Find us in Princesshay as part of the wider University of Exeter event.

More details can be found here - https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/publicengagement/eventsandfestivals/futures/popupshops/

The event is suitable for all ages, and accessible for neurodivergent families with a quiet space available – for any questions about accessibility and to preregister for an accessibility guide please get in touch. 

Art and Energy and The Mossy Carpet will be part of the Futures: A Festival of Discovery, pop-up Curiousity Shop of Science & Culture on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September.

Drop in any time for free family friendly creative activities, 10am - 2.30pm.

Find us in Princesshay as part of the wider University of Exeter event.

More details can be found here - https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/publicengagement/eventsandfestivals/futures/popupshops/

The event is suitable for all ages, and accessible for neurodivergent families with a quiet space available – for any questions about accessibility and to preregister for an accessibility guide please get in touch. 

The North Devon Craftivists will be hosting Mossy Carpet creative activities at the South Molton Eco Fair on Sunday 22nd September, 11am - 4pm at South Molton Pannier Market.

Art and Energy’s Jenny will be taking The Mossy Carpet along to this Food Plymouth event on 20th September.

Ready to be part of an exciting Food Conversations and Celebrations event this September?

Join the city's sustainable local food partnership Food Plymouth for a host of interactive and celebratory activities at Sherwell United Church on Friday 20th September 2024.

• Share your views on food as part of the national #FoodConversation in small group discussions in the morning

• Gather for a lunch celebrating 30 years of Fairtrade as part of Fairtrade Fortnight 2024

• Join a meeting of the Food Plymouth Partnership and Network - new faces are welcome alongside familiar ones!

Come for all or as much of the time that you can manage - everyone is welcome! You can let us know when you'll be joining us as part of registering for your (absolutely free) ticket here on Eventbrite.

Food Plymouth is grateful to have received a grant from the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission to support the Food Conversation element of this event.

Peatland Exhibition and Cinema - part of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme Conference 2024, featuring Art and Energy’s Naomi Wright with The Mossy Carpet artwork.

5pm – 7pm - Poster and exhibition session

Join our sponsors and exhibitors from across the peatland community to learn more about the research, restoration and engagement taking place across the UK. Try your hand at Peatland ACTION’s digger simulator, explore biodiverse soundscapes from different peatland habitats, or find out more about the amazing technologies being used to measure and monitor peatlands. 

6pm – 7pm - Peatland Poetry and Cinema (Auditorium, open to the public) 

Featuring the premiere of ‘Sphagnum Portraits’, a short film jointly commissioned by the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, this eclectic mix of sound and vision takes you on a journey through the special peatlands and people that make the UK such a wonderful place. 

Welcome: Jane Akerman, IUCN UK Peatland Programme 

The most important plant in the world (2024)’ from the series Sphagnum Portraits’ introduced by Caroline Vitzthum

‘Connecting communities through citizen science and the arts’ introduced by Lucy Lee and Beth Thomas, Yorkshire Peat Partnership 

'The Special Blanket' poetry reading, Roxane Andersen, University of the Highlands and Islands 

‘The Mossy Carpet’ introduced by Naomi Wright, Art and Energy 

‘STACKS’ and ‘Curlew, Curlew, Curlew!’ introduced by Rose Ferraby, University of Exeter 

Plymouth Culture and Art and Energy are partnering for a second year to bring creative practitioners and arts organisations together to explore how culture can take action for a brighter greener future.

This time we will create the “Let’s Change Culture Group” that will meet for five co-designed, facilitated sessions to explore collective and individual actions for change. Art & Energy and local experts will engage the group in a chosen topic which will evolve session by session.

All sessions will be held from 10:30-12:30 at The Sustainable Earth Institute at The University of Plymouth. Please see below the dates and themes

• 13th September - Creating environmental action plans and policies

• 18th October - Environmentally engaged creative practice - some best practices

• 22nd November - What is eco-anxiety and crisis fatigue and how does it impact your work?

• 24th January - Sharing how you report on and tell environmental stories

• 14th February - Considering how we can embed climate awareness and action in our teams and audiences

All sessions will be an opportunity to learn from each other and best practices. If you/your organisation is in an advanced stage of the themes above, you’re very welcome to bring and share your experience with the group.

If you are interested in joining these sessions, sign up here https://bit.ly/3MlTYax

The British Bryological Society Autumn meeting and AGM

Art and Energy and The Mossy Carpet will be at the 2024 AGM and paper reading meeting of The British Bryological Society (BBS), held in the Reed Hall, University of Exeter on Saturday 7th September.

We’ve been working with members of the BBS to learn more about mosses and bryophytes and to share our love of these tiny plants with a wider audience. We’ll be going along to the AGM to share our moss inspired creative activities including The Mossy Carpet.

Further details of the wider BBS Autumn event:

There will be the usual field meeting on Sunday 8th, but there will also be field meetings on Thursday 5th and Friday 6th of September, probably including visits to Dartmoor.

If you would be interested in attending please contact the meetings secretary Philippa Thompson: philippabryology@outlook.com

Join us to contribute to Art and Energy's Mossy Carpet collaborative art work, which celebrates the actions we're taking for our planet.

Everyone is welcome to drop in and help us grow The Mossy Carpet. We'll be sewing on woolly pompoms and other textile pieces to the artwork. You can also make more pieces, including knitted and crocheted creations. No experience is necessary and we'll provide all the materials needed.

This is also a great chance to drop off any pompoms or textile pieces you've been making and you can also donate any spare wool or yarn.

Book to join in with this free event at 10.30-11.30am and/or 1.30-2.30pm

Details can be found here.

Please email parkeevents@nationaltrust.co.uk

Meeting point

In the grassy old tennis court area, next to the National Trust car park.

What to bring and wear

This sew-on is held outdoors so come prepared for all weathers. There is a small gazebo for shelter.

Accessibility

The old tennis court area is accessed downhill on a stone path towards the cafe and then over a rough grass area. Two bench tables are designed to accomodate wheelchairs and pushchairs.

Other

Car parking is free for National Trust members or £3 for 2hrs. Every car park ticket helps to support Parke.

Contact info

Parke Events

01626834748

parkeevents@nationaltrust.org.uk

Meldon Wildlife Festival

The National Trust, Dartmoor will be attending the Meldon Wildlife Festival with Mossy Carpet activities for everyone! Come along and learn more about mosses and make moss inspired woolly pompoms for The Mossy Carpet.

More details about the Festival:

Come along to Meldon Old Quary for a wild day out celebrating Dartmoor's unique and beautiful wildlife. A free fun-filled, event for all the family!

There will be lots of wildlife activities to help you get closer to nature and nature crafts to take home. Spend the day in a beautiful part of Dartmoor.

No need to book for this free event.

Facilities

Free parking, toilets, and refreshments available to purchase.

Getting there

From Okehampton: Follow the B3260 uphill and look for Meldon Quarry sign. Turn left just before Betty Cottles. Follow road over A30, through the woods, under viaduct and look out for car park entrance to Meldon Old Quarry on right.

From Tavistock & A30 Cornwall: Follow signs to Okehampton leaving the A30 via slip road. Turn left onto B3260 towards Okehampton until you see Betty Cottles on your left, take next road on right marked Meldon Quarry. Follow road over A30, through the woods, under viaduct and look out for car park entrance to Meldon Old Quarry on the right.

More details can be found here.

The Mossy Carpet will be at Sideshore, Exmouth on Tuesday 20th August, 10am - 3pm.

Drop in any time for free moss inspired creative activities for all the family.

The South East Devon Wildlife team will also be on hand to share their local wildlife knowledge with you.

For further details please contact info@sideshore.co.uk

Sustainable Topsham will be bringing The Mossy Carpet activities to the Topsham Allotments and Garden Society Flower and Vegetable Show on Sunday 18th August.

Join them at Matthew’s Hall, Topsham from 2-4pm.

Come along to make moss inspired woolly pompoms and textile pieces for The Mossy Carpet. You can also bring along any pompoms you’ve been making at home or with your community group, there will be a short section of The Mossy Carpet artwork on display and you can stay and sew on pompoms if you wish.

If you are interested in Sustainable Topsham then contact Brana Thorn branathorn@gmail.com.

The Flower and Vegetable Show is open to the public between 2 and 4pm. During that time there is a raffle, a stall where you can buy local produce, and a marquee where tea & cake is served. You’re welcome to attend the prize giving at the end - it is a lovely community event! More details.

Join us to contribute to Art and Energy's Mossy Carpet collaborative art work, which celebrates the actions we're taking for our planet.

Everyone is welcome to drop in and help us grow The Mossy Carpet. We'll be sewing on woolly pompoms and other textile pieces to the artwork. You can also make more pieces, including knitted and crocheted creations. No experience is necessary and we'll provide all the materials needed.

This is also a great chance to drop off any pompoms or textile pieces you've been making and you can also donate any spare wool or yarn.

Book to join in with this free event at 10.30-11.30am and/or 1.30-2.30pm

Details can be found here.

Please email parkeevents@nationaltrust.co.uk

Meeting point

In the grassy old tennis court area, next to the National Trust car park.

What to bring and wear

This sew-on is held outdoors so come prepared for all weathers. There is a small gazebo for shelter.

Accessibility

The old tennis court area is accessed downhill on a stone path towards the cafe and then over a rough grass area. Two bench tables are designed to accomodate wheelchairs and pushchairs.

Other

Car parking is free for National Trust members or £3 for 2hrs. Every car park ticket helps to support Parke.

Contact info

Parke Events

01626834748

parkeevents@nationaltrust.org.uk

Art and Energy will be at Summer at the Quayside, Exeter Quay on Wednesday 7th August, 11am -4pm.

We’ll be at the Transit Shed offering free, family friendly creative activities and everyone is welcome - no need to book.

Details about the full summer of activities.

Join us to celebrate Bog Day on Sunday 28th July 2024. We’ve recorded a little film to help you learn more about mosses with Art and Energy’s Naomi Wright.

There’s also the chance to listen to our audio book A Mossy Story and feel inspired to take tiny actions for a brighter greener future.

If we’ve inspired you to love bogs and peatlands then there are many more resources on the Bog Day website which is managed by the IUCN UK Peatland Programme.

Thanks to our funders for supporting our work on Dartmoor to restore the peatland habitat and our wider work to create The Mossy Carpet.

Trowlesworthy Farm Creative Picnic  

A walk and creative picnic to Trowlesworthy Farm, a place that holds ancient history, wildlife of special significance, a beautiful river. This farm grazes animals on it’s commons, and hopes to make the most of it’s amazing and atmospheric features to visitors. Bex Blades will take us on a tour from Cadover Bridge of about 2 miles, some of it over rough ground and uphill. (4 miles in total.) 

We will make fleece nests and embroidered mossy blankets to grow sphagnum moss for repair od peatland. 

Toilet on site. 

Meet at Cadover Bridge carpark (free parking here)

Let's Change Culture - Creatives Working Together to Take Climate Action - Launch Event

Wednesday 17th July, 10:30am - 12:30pm at The Forum, Sustainable Earth Institute, University of Plymouth

Plymouth Culture and The Art and Energy Collective invite all creative practitioners and arts organisations in Plymouth to explore together how we can take action for a brighter greener future.

Over the last year The Art and Energy Collective have spoken to 48 creatives and cultural institutions across the city and have identified the key barriers, questions and challenges faced by the local cultural sector when confronting the climate and ecological emergencies.

Come along and find out what these are and help decide which we can try to overcome together.

During an initial session hosted by The Art and Energy Collective, Plymouth Culture at The Sustainable Earth Institute at The University of Plymouth we will:

• Review the challenges and questions faced by Plymouth's Cultural Sector as we confront the climate challenge.

• Share some of the opportunities noticed by the Cultural Sector for supporting our communities at large to respond to the climate challenge.

• Consider what might be included in an environmental action plan.

• Share initial resources that can support creatives to take action for a better world

• Contribute to shape a programme for the sector that will explore key challenges and possible solutions more deeply.

With your contribution to this session, Plymouth Culture and Art and Energy will shape five meetings that will take place from September until February, and will gather creatives and organisations in the city to explore key climate actions challenges and possible solutions more deeply.

This event is free to attend but booking is essential.

If you have any accessibility requirements then please let us know when you book your place.

Art and Energy and The Mossy Carpet will be at Paignton Library on Tuesday 9th July.

Drop in any time 11am - 4pm for a free creative session inspired by mosses and helping to grow The Mossy Carpet artwork.

You can make woolly pompoms or help us sew these on to the fleecy backing of the artwork.

If you've been busy making pompoms etc at home then please do drop these in on the day, we'd also welcome your donations of spare wool or yarn which we can use on the day and at future sessions.

Everyone welcome, no need to book but children must be accompanied by an adult.

With thanks to the National Centre for Creative Health for funding this event.

Art and Energy’s The Mossy Carpet will be at Exeter Phoenix’s Green Festival on Sunday 30th June 2024.

Join us 3.30 - 5.30pm in the Meeting Room (just up the main stairs).

We’ll be there with a sew-on session and making pompoms for The Mossy Carpet. All welcome.

Details including how to book: https://exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/green-phoenix-festival/

GREEN PHOENIX FESTIVAL

We are excited to present Exeter Phoenix’s first Green Phoenix Festival! Inspiring a Sustainable Future through a day of creativity and action.

Delivered in partnership with Ethical Power and a wide range of local groups, organisations and individuals, this festival will be an opportunity to raise awareness of the climate crisis, shine a light on the many ways that we can all do our bit and to celebrate the excellent work taking place locally.

Over the course of the day we will be offering a packed programme of presentations, panel discussions, workshops and creative activities completely free of charge to the local community. Some of this activity includes:

ACOUSTIC RAVE | SOUP MAKING | OPEN MIC | DROP-IN CRAFTS | ART DISPLAYS | FILM SCREENING | TREASURE HUNT | STALLS

https://exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/green-phoenix-festival/

Art and Energy will bring The Mossy Carpet to the We Are The Ocean event at Princesshay on Tuesday 25th June, 4-6pm.

Join us for a free creative session making moss inspired woolly pompoms and textile pieces to add to The Mossy Carpet artwork. Our workshops is free of charge and everyone is welcome but children must be accompanied by an adult.

Come along to be inspired by UK and UAE children’s poetry and artwork displayed in large format with a simple aim and message about protecting and restoring our ocean! Find out more about the We Are The Ocean project including a live multimedia celebration with live performances and music, poetry in English and Arabic, whale song and more!

Find out more

Art and Energy will be bringing the The Mossy Carpet to The Box, Plymouth on Saturday 22nd June for Plymouth’s Big Green Trail event.

The Mossy Carpet will be on display in all its glory! Thanks to groups from all across Plymouth joining in, we have managed to grow the artwork to 50 metres!

We have wet and dry weather options so you are guaranteed to find us at The Box on the day.

Join us for a celebratory walk along The Mossy Carpet and share your tiny actions for a brighter greener future.

To talk a walk on the artwork you will need to take your shoes off and be wearing socks.

10:00am - event starts

11:00am - Listen to A Mossy Story, read by author Micha Colombo

1:00pm - Listen to A Mossy Story, read by author Micha Colombo

2:00pm - Local Climate Heroes take their celebratory walk on The Mossy Carpet

4.00pm - event ends

The Big Green Trail event:

A fun, family friendly event, highlighting all the wonderful green and blue sustainable projects we have within Plymouth that you can reach - all without using your car! The aim is to promote the use of active and sustainable travel (walking and cycling) as well as sharing some fantastic stories within Plymouth. We have free use of Beryl Bikes on the day and a wide variety of wonderful places and spaces to visit. It will also be a day to celebrate our local climate legends - those unsung heroes in our communities taking climate action every day. The Big Green Trail will be focused in the city centre and we've got lots of fantastic community partners involved. 

Art and Energy will be at Exeter Phoenix every Friday morning from 12th April to 21st June. Come along any week, 10am to 12.30pm and you’ll find us in the Auditorium area.

We’re offering a lovely, relaxed space where you can grab a hot drink from the Exeter Phoenix Cafe and join us for a spot of stitching and sewing!

All these events are free of charge and everyone is welcome to drop in any time, you don’t need to stay for the full duration of the event. Come along as a one off or every week, you don’t need to commit and all your time is greatly appreciated.

Why sew-on?

Art and Energy have families, individuals, groups and schools making woolly pompoms and textile tufts for The Mossy Carpet but we really need your help to sew these creations on to our artwork! We’ll provide the needles and thread, you can bring your own if you prefer and if you’ve been making pompoms for us then bring those along too.

No sewing experience needed, we will be relaxed and chat as we sew so bring a friend or two and come and join us - we’d love to see you!

Everyone is welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult and if you’d like to bring a group along then you would be most welcome, you can email us to work out the details in advance if you prefer or just turn up on the day hello@artandenergy.org

Exeter Phoenix is also a pompom drop off space so if you’ve been making pompoms at home you can drop them off any time and we’ll add them to our sewing pile! Equally we’d love any donations of wool or yarn and you can drop this off too - thank you!

The Mossy Carpet:

The Mossy Carpet is a mass-participation artwork designed by the award winning Art and Energy Collective and made by all of us to celebrate all the tiny (and bigger) things that people are doing in response to the climate and ecological emergencies

In the run up to Exeter’s Green Phoenix Festival on June the 30th, Art and Energy will be holding these Mossy Carpet Sew-on Sessions and for people who would like to drop in and help us attach pompoms that have been sent in by groups to the carpet. During the festival on June 30th we will invite people to take a walk on the carpet and find out about all the wonderful things that are happening in our region.

Despite being tiny, Mosses make a huge difference for the health of our planet, cleaning air, preventing flooding and creating wild places for all of life to thrive. Mossy landscapes in Britain are incredibly important for bury carbon and store more carbon that rainforests. Find out more about magnificent mosses here!

You can celebrate all the small things you and the people you know are doing to make the world a better place by adding to the carpet and recording your message as we make this mega inspiring artwork for COP the United Nations Conference on Climate Change. 

If you’re unable to make it to one of these sew-on sessions, please feel free to use our free online resources and make pompoms with your group and drop them off at Exeter Phoenix reception.

Art and Energy’s Chloe Uden will be a guest speaker and deliver a workshop at the Sustainable Earth 2024 event.

'Accelerating Action on Net-Zero through Mobilising People-Power' is a free online event and offers the opportunity for researchers, businesses, NGOs, community groups and individuals to come together to hear inspirational speakers, to network, spark ideas and encourage collaborations to tackle global and local challenges around the climate.

With talks from University of Plymouth researchers as well as industry experts and activists, our hope is that you will leave the event energised and equipped with the knowledge to advocate for and take action towards a Net-Zero future.

The free online event will run through the Net-Zero Exchange's online SpotMe platform and will run from 09:30 – 18:00 on the 19 June.

The day-long programme, includes:

• Two Keynote presentations, from Emily Morrison, Young Foundation and Mike Berners-Lee, Author of “How bad are bananas?”

• Over 12 guest speakers/chairs, for example from RIBA, British Gas, Plymouth Energy Community, Beryl Bikes, Bath & North East Somerset Council, University Hospitals Plymouth, Plymouth City Council.

• Over 12 University speakers/chairs, exploring a wide variety of disciplines engaged in this agenda.

• Three action-oriented workshops, providing case studies and sector findings, sharing tools and strategies to take action at all levels.

• A documentary screening of the film, Power to the People and after show Q&A.