November 2016
Multi-disciplinary sustainable energy initiative wins CIWEM Arts, Water and the Environment Award
The 2016 award is presented to ecoartscotland and The Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) collaboration in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the field of environmental arts, including the LAGI Glasgow Design Competition.
The judging panel were particularly impressed by the practical orientation and ambitious scope of the initiative, which directly engages with management of the environment. They praised the multi-disciplinary structure of the collaboration, bringing together science, art, design and engineering expertise to tackle the transition to renewable energy in response to climate change, one of our biggest global environmental challenges. The open sharing of ideas and experience which is facilitated by the project will undoubtedly lead to an ultimate impact beyond the scope of the project alone.
The Nick Reeves AWEinspiring Award is presented annually by CIWEM's Arts and the Environment Network in association with the Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World (CCANW). The award celebrates projects or practitioners who have contributed innovatively to CIWEM's vision of "putting creativity at the heart of environmental policy and action".
The 2016 judging panel consisted of representatives from CIWEM's Arts and the Environment Network and CCANW. Special Commendations were also awarded to Tania Kovats for her exhibition ‘Evaporation’ and Chris Watson for his work as a musician, documentarist, communicator and sonic artist.
Dave Pritchard, Chair of CIWEM’s Arts and Environment Network, said: “The quality of nominations for this year’s Award was wonderful. LAGI and ecoartscotland’s work is a superb example of our belief that arts-based approaches offer massive potential for more intelligent ways of responding to environmental challenges”.
Clive Adams, Director of CCANW, said: “Such new forms of collaboration across disciplines are increasingly needed if we are to reach a more harmonious relationship with the rest of nature”.
Directors of The Land Art Generator Initiative, Elizabeth Monoian and Robert Ferry said:
"LAGI Glasgow shows how every development can approach early stages of master planning by recognising the natural energy resources that exist within the site (most commonly in the form of sun, wind, and ground/water source heat) and translating them creatively into features that can offset or reduce the need for externalised energy sources, all the while celebrating these climate solutions by making them attractive and engaging places for people."
ecoartscotland said:
“We are delighted to share the Nick Reeves Award with The Land Art Generator Initiative for the LAGI Glasgow project. This is the art and environment award in the UK and highlights the important partnership we’ve formed aimed at stimulating more interdisciplinary and practical projects between artists, designers, architects and planners working with renewables both at the community and industry levels. Having the national recognition of CIWEM and CCANW is incredibly positive and will be appreciated by our partners – Glasgow City Council, Scottish Canals and igloo Regeneration.”