What might a better world be like and how can we get there?

17 Oct

What might a better world be like? How could we all get there together? Is art really an essential part of the journey? These are some of the questions we’ll explore in this ‘Let’s Change Culture’ blog.

What Might a Better World be Like?

A better world can be imagined in many ways, often shaped by the values and priorities of individuals and societies.

Creative practitioners can help people enter the imagination and explore and consider through playful activities what a better world might be like. You could look at our ‘Utopia’ work with David Sergeant at the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Culture for tools to explore these ideas with your group.

Here's a vision of what a better world might look like, rooted in principles of equity, sustainability, creativity, and well-being:

Environmental Sustainability

Renewable Energy Dominates: Most of the world’s energy comes from clean, renewable sources like solar, wind, and tidal power. Communities participate in their own local energy production, creating more resilient systems.
Thriving Ecosystems: Nature is protected and restored, with reforestation and regenerative agriculture leading to a resurgence of biodiversity. Urban spaces are green, clean, and designed to coexist with natural environments.
Low-Carbon Lifestyles: People have adopted low-impact ways of living, supported by efficient public transportation, circular economies, and sustainable consumption patterns. The concept of ‘waste’ is eliminated through recycling, reusing, and upcycling materials.

Social Justice and Equity

Equality and Access: Everyone has access to basic needs like healthcare, education, clean water, and housing. Economic systems are restructured to reduce inequality, ensuring wealth and opportunities are more evenly distributed.
Inclusive Societies: Discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or ability is actively dismantled. Diversity is celebrated, and societal systems are designed to be inclusive of all people, including those historically marginalized.
Universal Education: Quality education is available to all, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. People of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to learn and grow, with a focus on both personal fulfillment and societal benefit.

Creative Flourishing

Arts Integrated into Daily Life: Creativity is deeply valued, with the arts integrated into everyday experiences, not just as entertainment but as tools for healing, understanding, and social change. Artistic expression is accessible to all, and communities are empowered to use creativity as a force for growth.
Collaborative Communities: People work together to co-create their neighborhoods, cities, and environments. Public art, participatory installations, and community projects become a norm, fostering connection and collective ownership of shared spaces.

Mental and Physical Well-being

Health-Centered Systems: Healthcare systems prioritize prevention, mental health, and holistic care. Public health initiatives focus on creating environments where people can thrive both physically and mentally.
Work-Life Balance: People work fewer hours and have more time for creative pursuits, family, and relaxation. The economy is less focused on endless growth and more on well-being, leading to healthier, happier lives.
Communal and Cooperative Lifestyles: Communities are built around cooperation, with shared resources, communal spaces, and strong support networks that reduce isolation and increase mutual aid.

Resilient Communities

Local Empowerment: Local economies are strong, with decentralized systems that allow communities to meet their own needs. Small businesses, cooperatives, and mutual aid networks flourish, creating vibrant, resilient local cultures.
Food Sovereignty: Communities grow much of their own food through urban farming, permaculture, and sustainable practices. This leads to fresher, healthier diets and reduces the environmental impact of large-scale food production.
Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding: Societies prioritize diplomacy, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding efforts. People are taught how to communicate and resolve disputes without violence, and global conflicts are managed through cooperation and negotiation.

Technological Innovation for Good

Ethical Technology: Technology is developed with ethical considerations in mind, ensuring it serves humanity and the planet. Innovations focus on solving pressing global issues like climate change, hunger, and disease, rather than fueling consumerism or surveillance.
Open Access to Knowledge: Knowledge and information are shared freely, and the internet is a space for learning, collaboration, and empowerment rather than exploitation. Digital spaces are regulated for public good, reducing misinformation and enhancing access to quality education and resources.

Flourishing Relationships with Nature

Reconnection to the Earth: People feel deeply connected to the natural world, with a reverence for the ecosystems that sustain us. This connection influences everything from policy decisions to daily habits, leading to more responsible stewardship of the planet.
Slow Living: Fast-paced consumerism is replaced with a slower, more mindful way of life. People live in harmony with nature, appreciating the value of things and the rhythms of the natural world rather than racing to accumulate more.

Global Cooperation

Shared Global Goals: Nations work together to address global challenges like climate change, poverty, and health crises. International cooperation is driven by a shared commitment to creating a more equitable and sustainable world.
Cultural Exchange and Understanding: People travel not just for leisure but for learning and cultural exchange. Global movements encourage mutual respect and understanding, fostering peace and global solidarity.

In this vision of a better world, creativity and collective well-being become central values, driving innovation, policy, and daily life. This world is one where humanity has successfully rebalanced its relationship with the planet and each other, creating systems that prioritize not just survival but flourishing for all.

Obviously there are lots of other things one could include: Democratic and Transparent Governance, Economic Systems Based on Well-Being, Restorative Justice Systems, Spiritual and Emotional Well-Being, Intergenerational Solidarity, Global Equity and De-colonization, Crisis Preparedness and Resilience, Technological Equity and Digital Ethics, Education for Critical Thinking and Empathy and the Right to Leisure and Personal Development for example.

I don’t know about you, but I often find myself thinking - Art? Creativity? Really? Is it essential? So many people find the arts hard to access for one reason or another, the arts are being squeezed out of education and society, Are the arts REALLY essential in our journey to a better world?

Are the Arts REALLY essential in our journey to a better world?

The evidence for art and creativity being essential parts of a better world comes from a range of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, cultural studies, and environmental sciences. I will write and share a blog in due course to share some of this research evidence.

But basically, Yes, art and creativity are essential components of a better world. They play critical roles in shaping culture, inspiring change, and fostering deeper connections between individuals and communities. Here are some key reasons why art and creativity are vital to realizing a better world:

Inspiring Imagination and Vision

Imagining Alternatives: Art and creativity allow people to envision alternative realities and futures, challenging the status quo and imagining what a better world could look like. In a world focused on practical solutions and efficiency, creativity fosters visionary thinking, helping us to see beyond current limitations.
Creating a Shared Vision: Through visual art, storytelling, music, and performance, artists can communicate ideas in ways that resonate deeply with people. This shared vision can inspire collective action, uniting diverse communities around common goals like social justice, environmental sustainability, and peace.

Driving Social and Cultural Change

Challenging Norms: Art challenges deeply ingrained societal norms and provokes critical thinking. Through creativity, people are encouraged to question unjust systems, behaviors, and traditions, opening up space for dialogue and transformation.
Amplifying Marginalized Voices: Art has historically been a powerful tool for giving voice to marginalized communities and social movements. Whether it's through literature, music, or visual arts, creative expression allows those who are often silenced to communicate their experiences, truths, and aspirations.

Fostering Empathy and Emotional Connection

Building Empathy: Art can evoke emotions and convey experiences in ways that transcend language and logic, helping individuals empathize with others. Whether through a powerful documentary, a compelling painting, or a moving piece of music, art can foster understanding and compassion across cultures, backgrounds, and identities.
Humanizing Complex Issues: Creativity has the unique ability to humanize abstract issues like climate change, poverty, or inequality. By telling personal stories or representing real struggles, art helps people emotionally connect with these problems, which in turn can inspire action.

Healing and Emotional Resilience

Art as Therapy: Creativity is a form of emotional and psychological healing, offering people a way to process trauma, grief, or anxiety. In a world facing constant crises—climate change, political unrest, pandemics—art can offer a sense of solace and renewal.
Building Resilience: Creative expression allows individuals to process difficult emotions, experiment with new ideas, and adapt to change. Whether through personal artistic practices or collective creative projects, engaging in art helps people develop resilience in the face of uncertainty and adversity.

Building Community and Shared Experience

Connecting People: Creative activities like collaborative art-making, community murals, or group performances foster a sense of connection and belonging. These activities bring people together around shared experiences, regardless of differences, helping build stronger, more cohesive communities.
Breaking Down Barriers: In divided or polarized societies, art can serve as a bridge, creating spaces where people with different views or backgrounds can engage with one another. By encouraging creative dialogue, communities can find common ground and work together toward shared goals.

Supporting Sustainable and Local Solutions

Celebrating Local Culture: Creativity often draws on local culture, traditions, and resources, helping communities reconnect with their heritage and the environment. For example, using local materials or traditional crafting techniques can inspire more sustainable, low-impact living.
Reinventing the Use of Materials: Many artists and creative thinkers are leading the charge in sustainable practices by rethinking how materials are used, upcycling waste into art, and raising awareness of environmental issues. This creative problem-solving is key to transitioning to a more sustainable world.

Stimulating Innovation and Problem-Solving

Creative Problem-Solving: Creativity is crucial for innovation, helping people think outside the box and come up with fresh solutions to complex challenges. Whether in art, technology, or social innovation, creativity drives forward-thinking solutions that are essential for addressing global problems like climate change, poverty, and inequality.
Art as a Catalyst for Social Innovation: Many movements for social change have been driven or inspired by artistic expression. Whether through public art that challenges societal injustices or creative projects that raise awareness about critical issues, art has historically been a catalyst for pushing society forward.

Reconnecting with Nature and the Environment

Exploring Our Relationship with Nature: Many artists use their work to reflect on humanity’s relationship with the natural world, reminding us of our interconnectedness with the environment. This can inspire people to live more harmoniously with nature, adopting practices that are in line with environmental stewardship.
Bringing Attention to Environmental Issues: Creative projects that highlight the beauty and fragility of ecosystems—such as eco-art, land art, or environmental installations—can raise awareness of environmental challenges like climate change, deforestation, and pollution. These projects can inspire public consciousness and action for conservation.

Reframing Sustainability and Climate Action

Making Sustainability Accessible: Artists and creatives can make complex environmental issues more accessible and engaging by using visual metaphors, storytelling, or interactive experiences. Creative engagement allows people to connect emotionally with sustainability efforts and feel motivated to participate.
Creating Narratives of Hope: In the face of the climate crisis, it’s easy to feel despair. Art and creativity can generate narratives of hope, showing people that positive change is possible. Creative projects can offer new ways of imagining sustainable futures and inspire optimism and action.

Facilitating Personal and Collective Transformation

Encouraging Self-Expression and Identity: In a better world, people would be free to explore their identities and express themselves without fear. Art and creativity are key to this self-exploration, allowing individuals to discover who they are and express their truth in ways that go beyond words.
Transforming Collective Consciousness: When large groups of people engage in creative activities, it can shift collective consciousness. Cultural movements, driven by art and creativity, can redefine societal values, spark social revolutions, and transform entire generations’ ways of thinking.

Art and creativity are not just aesthetic additions to society—they are powerful tools for transformation. They inspire innovation, foster empathy, build community, challenge injustices, and promote healing. In a better world, where sustainability, social equity, and well-being are prioritized, art and creativity would be central to nurturing the human spirit, facilitating personal and societal growth, and addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.

So, What changes are needed to achieve this better world?

Realizing a better world would require a profound transformation of society and culture across various sectors, mindsets, and systems. This transformation would need to be comprehensive, addressing everything from individual behavior to institutional frameworks, and would be driven by both top-down (policy) and bottom-up (grassroots) efforts. Here’s a breakdown of the key changes society and culture would need to make:

Shift in Values and Priorities

Prioritizing Well-Being Over Profit: Society would need to move away from prioritizing economic growth, profit, and consumption, toward values of well-being, environmental sustainability, and social equity. This means redefining success at both individual and societal levels, measuring it in terms of happiness, fulfillment, and ecological balance rather than wealth accumulation.
Embracing Community and Cooperation: A cultural shift toward community, cooperation, and interdependence is crucial. Society would need to value mutual aid, collective well-being, and shared resources over hyper-individualism, fostering a sense of solidarity and collective responsibility for one another and the planet.

Reforming Political and Governance Systems

Transparent, Accountable, and Participatory Governance: Political systems must become more transparent, participatory, and accountable. This could involve democratic reforms, including greater civic participation in decision-making processes, decentralized power structures, and stronger checks and balances to prevent corruption and misuse of power.
Long-Term Policy Thinking: Governments and institutions need to prioritize long-term planning and policy-making over short-term gains. This includes integrating environmental and social justice into policies, with a focus on protecting future generations and addressing historical inequities.
Support for Grassroots Movements: Bottom-up initiatives, such as grassroots organizations and community-based projects, must be supported and scaled up. Governments, businesses, and civil society must collaborate to empower local efforts that foster community resilience and social innovation.

Comprehensive Education Reform

Teaching Empathy, Critical Thinking, and Global Citizenship: Education systems must evolve to prioritize not just academic success but also emotional intelligence, empathy, media literacy, and critical thinking. By fostering these skills, society can cultivate citizens who are compassionate, informed, and capable of navigating complex global challenges.
Environmental and Social Justice Curriculum: Education should focus on environmental stewardship, sustainability, and social justice, encouraging students to engage with the world’s most pressing problems from a young age. This includes teaching about the impacts of climate change, the importance of equity, and the power of collective action.
Lifelong Learning and Reskilling: A culture of lifelong learning needs to be promoted, allowing people to continually adapt and develop new skills throughout their lives. This is particularly important for transitioning to a sustainable economy, where reskilling for green jobs and sustainable practices is essential.

Economic System Transformation

Circular Economy and Regenerative Systems: Economic models must shift from extractive, linear systems to circular, regenerative economies. This means designing products for reuse, repair, and recycling, and prioritizing local production to reduce the environmental impact of global supply chains.
Universal Basic Services: To reduce inequality, universal access to basic services like healthcare, education, housing, and clean water would be needed. Governments must implement social safety nets that ensure everyone has access to these fundamental rights, reducing the precarity many people face in today’s economic systems.
Decentralizing Economic Power: Cooperative ownership models and local economies should be promoted, allowing communities to take control of their resources, businesses, and wealth. This would democratize economic power and reduce the dominance of large, exploitative corporations.

Reimagining Justice Systems

Restorative and Transformative Justice: The justice system needs to move away from punitive approaches toward restorative and transformative justice practices. This includes addressing the root causes of crime, focusing on rehabilitation, and promoting healing and reconciliation over punishment.
Ending Mass Incarceration: Reforming criminal justice systems to dismantle mass incarceration, particularly in countries like the U.S., would be essential. This involves decriminalizing non-violent offenses, investing in mental health services, and creating alternatives to prison that address social inequalities.

Environmental Stewardship and Climate Action

Universal Climate Action: Every sector of society—governments, businesses, and individuals—must commit to immediate and sustained climate action. This includes drastically reducing carbon emissions, protecting biodiversity, restoring ecosystems, and transitioning to renewable energy.
Supporting Indigenous and Local Knowledge: Indigenous communities often hold valuable knowledge about sustainable practices and environmental stewardship. Empowering Indigenous peoples to lead on conservation efforts, and integrating their knowledge into global environmental solutions, would be essential.
Low-Impact Lifestyles: Cultural norms around consumption and lifestyle need to shift toward low-impact, sustainable living. This includes reducing waste, embracing minimalist and eco-friendly lifestyles, and valuing quality and longevity over quantity and disposability.

Cultural Shift Toward Creativity and Well-Being

Elevating the Arts and Creative Expression: A culture that values creativity, imagination, and artistic expression is vital for innovation and social cohesion. The arts can be a powerful tool for addressing societal issues, fostering empathy, and inspiring collective action.
Balancing Work and Leisure: Society must embrace a healthier balance between work and leisure. Shorter workweeks, fair wages, and universal access to leisure time and cultural participation would lead to greater happiness, creativity, and well-being.
Mental Health as a Priority: Mental health services need to be integrated into all aspects of society, with easy access to therapy, emotional support, and community care. Destigmatizing mental health challenges and fostering environments where people can thrive emotionally is essential for a better world.

Technological and Digital Ethics

Ethical Technology Development: Technology needs to be developed and governed in ways that serve the common good. This involves creating technologies that prioritize equity, privacy, and human well-being over profit and surveillance.
Bridging the Digital Divide: Society must ensure that everyone has access to digital tools and the internet, particularly in underserved and rural areas. Closing the digital divide would enable equitable access to education, resources, and economic opportunities.
Responsible AI and Automation: As automation and AI reshape the workforce, societies need to ensure that these technologies are implemented ethically, with policies in place to protect jobs, safeguard privacy, and prevent exploitation.

Global Solidarity and Cooperation

Global Wealth Redistribution and Debt Relief: Wealthy nations and individuals must take responsibility for reducing global inequality, through wealth redistribution, debt cancellation for developing countries, and fair trade systems. Global solidarity must replace exploitative practices that perpetuate poverty.
De-Colonization and Reparations: There must be a global reckoning with the impacts of colonialism, including reparations for historically oppressed nations and communities. This would involve land return, sovereignty recognition, and support for self-determined development in formerly colonized nations.

Personal Transformation and Mindset Shifts

Self-Awareness and Personal Responsibility: Individuals must develop self-awareness and take responsibility for their role in shaping the world. This means examining personal habits, consumption patterns, and participation in unjust systems, and making conscious choices to align with a vision for a better world.
Fostering Empathy and Compassion: A cultural emphasis on empathy and compassion would need to be at the heart of human interactions. Teaching people to understand and share the feelings of others—across differences in race, class, gender, and geography—would be foundational to building a more equitable society.

Realizing a better world requires more than just institutional changes; it involves a cultural shift in how we see ourselves, our relationships to each other, and our relationship to the planet. With collective action, a shift in values, and deep systemic reforms, society could create a world where well-being, creativity, and sustainability are central to human life. This transformation would demand courage, vision, and global solidarity, but it is achievable through deliberate action at every level of society.

I don’t know about you, but when I think about all this change that’s needed I find it quite overwhelming and hard to see where I fit in. I only have a little energy and my life is full and challenging, it it hard to stay focussed.

What an earth can an individual do to contribute to this societal journey?

Individuals can approach the realization of a better world by making meaningful changes in their own lives, influencing their communities, and contributing to broader societal transformations. This can feel like a daunting task, but every small action, when combined with collective effort, can help bring about significant change. Here are practical ways individuals can approach this:

Cultivate Self-Awareness, Energy Awareness and Reflection

Examine Your Values: Reflect on your own values and beliefs. Are they aligned with the principles of well-being, sustainability, and equity? Ask yourself what kind of world you want to contribute to and what small changes in mindset or behavior could support that vision.
Notice the energy systems that you are part of: Consider the way you live, where you get your energy, how you use it and how you waste it. Consider your power and the power of others.
Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness and reflective practices that help you connect with the present moment, the environment, and the people around you. This can build a deeper sense of empathy and a commitment to living more consciously.

Make Conscious Lifestyle Changes

Reduce Consumption and Waste: Simplify your lifestyle by consuming less, reusing and repairing items, and choosing products that are sustainable and ethically made. Avoid the fast fashion industry, minimize single-use plastics, and reduce food waste.
Support Ethical and Local Businesses: Buy from local producers and businesses that prioritize sustainability, fair wages, and environmentally friendly practices. Support community markets, cooperatives, and ethical brands whenever possible.
Transition to Renewable Energy: If possible, switch to renewable energy sources for your home or vehicle, or reduce your energy use. You can also advocate for renewable energy in your community.

Build Compassion and Empathy

Practice Empathy in Daily Life: Make an effort to understand others’ perspectives, especially those from marginalized or oppressed communities. Listen to people’s stories, engage in conversations, and practice empathy by helping others where you can.
Engage in Community Service: Volunteer your time to help vulnerable populations, the environment, or community-based initiatives. Whether through local charities, environmental projects, or community centers, you can contribute positively to the lives of others.
Foster Kindness and Generosity: Be kind and generous in your relationships. Simple acts of kindness can create a ripple effect, promoting more cooperative, supportive communities.

Advocate for Change in Your Community

Engage in Civic Participation: Get involved in your local government, community boards, or neighborhood groups. Attend town hall meetings, vote in local elections, and advocate for policies that align with sustainability, justice, and community well-being.
Organize or Join Grassroots Movements: Join or start grassroots movements or initiatives that aim to create positive change, such as environmental groups, mutual aid networks, or social justice organizations.
Share Your Skills and Knowledge: Use your talents and skills to contribute to a better world. Whether you're an artist, educator, engineer, or organizer, find ways to use your expertise to inspire others and promote positive change in your community.

Learn Continuously and Stay Informed

Educate Yourself on Global Issues: Stay informed about important global and local issues, such as climate change, social justice, economic inequality, and human rights. Read books, attend workshops, and follow reliable news sources.
Develop Critical Thinking Skills: Challenge yourself to think critically about the systems and structures you live within. Question how they impact society and the environment, and explore alternative ways of living and organizing.
Be Open to Unlearning: Be willing to challenge and unlearn beliefs and behaviors that contribute to harm, whether that’s through unconscious biases, consumption habits, or complicity in unjust systems.

Cultivate Sustainable Relationships with Nature

Reconnect with Nature: Spend time in nature and develop a personal connection with the environment. Gardening, hiking, and camping can foster a deeper appreciation for the planet, leading to more sustainable behaviors.
Practice Regenerative Habits: Beyond minimizing harm, focus on regenerating the environment. This can involve planting trees, creating wildlife-friendly spaces in your community, or restoring local ecosystems.
Advocate for Environmental Protections: Support policies and organizations that protect biodiversity, address climate change, and promote sustainable practices. You can engage in activism or simply raise awareness within your community.

Take Responsibility for Your Role in Larger Systems

Acknowledge Your Impact: Recognize how your choices contribute to larger systems of production, consumption, and inequality. Whether through what you buy, where you work, or how you travel, understand that you have a role in shaping those systems.
Practice Ethical Consumption: Make purchasing decisions that support fair trade, human rights, and environmental sustainability. Avoid companies that exploit workers or engage in harmful environmental practices.
Work for Change in Your Workplace: If you are in a position of influence in your workplace, advocate for more ethical practices. This could include implementing sustainability measures, supporting diversity and inclusion efforts, or promoting a more equitable corporate culture.

Nurture Creative Solutions

Use Art and Creativity as Tools for Change: Engage in creative practices that express your vision for a better world. Whether through writing, art, music, or performance, creativity can inspire others and foster dialogue around important issues.
Promote Innovation and Sustainable Technologies: Support and engage with technological innovations that promote sustainability and well-being, whether through new forms of renewable energy, sustainable materials, or social technologies.
Encourage Collective Creativity: Collaborate with others to generate innovative solutions to complex problems. Community arts projects, co-design processes, and creative problem-solving workshops can foster collective action and change.

Foster Inclusivity and Social Justice

Challenge Inequality and Injustice: Stand against systems of oppression, whether they are based on race, gender, class, or other identities. Speak out against injustice, support movements for equity, and engage in active allyship.
Build Inclusive Communities: Foster inclusivity in your social circles, community spaces, and workplaces. Ensure that marginalized voices are heard and valued, and take steps to create environments where everyone feels welcome and respected.
Support Reparative Efforts: Engage with and support initiatives that address historical injustices, such as reparations for Indigenous peoples, descendants of slavery, or other oppressed groups. Advocate for policies and practices that promote healing and restoration.

Balance Personal Action with Collective Efforts

Collaborate with Others for Greater Impact: While individual actions matter, collective efforts are more powerful. Join with others who share your vision and work together on projects, campaigns, and initiatives that create meaningful change.
Support Systemic Change: Push for systemic solutions, whether through political advocacy, social movements, or economic reforms. Support leaders, organizations, and policies that work toward a more just and sustainable future.
Avoid Burnout by Building Community Support: Tackling global challenges can be exhausting. Ensure you’re building a support network, participating in self-care practices, and leaning on community when needed to avoid burnout and stay committed in the long term.

Individuals can approach the realization of a better world by embodying the change they wish to see, supporting and participating in collective efforts, and constantly learning and reflecting on how to make a positive impact. Whether through personal behaviour shifts, community engagement, or advocacy for larger systemic reforms, every action contributes to a world where well-being, justice, and sustainability are prioritized.

It’s important to recognise that we are not in this alone.

We are part of a greater societal shift, and we are not responsible for every aspect of the changes that are needed - As individuals and groups, we can’t do everything, but we can attempt to understand ourselves and our context and the opportunities that arise for us to help make a difference.

At the Art and Energy Collective, we recognise that long journeys are made of very tiny steps and that it can be helpful to build our own visions of a better world by taking small Utopian actions as a group.

We will soon be publishing a toolkit for culture organisations to support teams to consider how creatively exploring the notion of Utopia through connecting with nature can be helpful in generating energy, motivation as well as shaping and guiding climate action within teams.

Follow this Let’s Change Culture series to find out when the the resource is available.

Chloe Uden