In a groundbreaking initiative, the inaugural Street Works Earth festival is set to transform 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens, into a vibrant hub of art and climate action on September 22, 2024. Organized by Make Justice Normal (MJN), this open-to-the-public event aims to spark joy and inspire hopeful action in support of climate and environmental justice during the 2024 New York Climate Week.
The festival will feature 17 interactive art installations and 23 climate and civic action tables, creating a unique space where creativity and practical climate solutions converge. Taking place on one of America’s longest open streets, Street Works Earth seeks to engage the diverse community of Jackson Heights, which is approximately 85% BIPOC and home to speakers of over 150 languages.
Anjali Deshmukh, Jackson Heights resident and co-founder of Street Works Earth and MJN, emphasizes the festival’s mission: ‘Street Works Earth seeks to bridge art and practical climate action. By creating joyful spaces in which residents can participate in creativity while exploring climate justice, they can take action in ways that fit their priorities.’
The event showcases a carefully curated selection of artists and collectives, chosen from over 100 entries. Installations range from ‘Wasted Potential’ by youth-led climate collective The Veggie Nuggets, focusing on the impacts of food waste, to ‘Flood Sensory Aunty’ by Sabina Sethi Unni, exploring culturally competent emergency management. Other notable works include Nitin Mukul’s Heat Maps and Bayeté Ross Smith’s Hip Hop 50 Boombox.
A distinguishing feature of Street Works Earth is its intentional fostering of dialogue between artists and climate experts. Artists were connected with specialists from organizations such as Environmental Defense Fund and Queens Climate Project, promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration. Jonathan Camuzeaux, Senior Director at Environmental Defense Fund and Street Works Earth Advisor, notes, ‘There is so much that climate experts have to learn from artists and creators, and so many ways that we can enrich each other.’
The festival’s commitment to civic engagement is evident in its inclusion of 23 climate and civic action tables. These spaces will host organizations such as ALIGN, Chhaya, Environmental Defense Fund, and WE ACT for Environmental Justice, among others. This approach illustrates how art in community spaces can support democracy and civic participation while reaching a diverse audience.
Street Works Earth builds upon MJN’s organizing principles for justice, adding design principles specifically for collaborating with artists and climate experts. By creating a platform for street artists outside traditional museum and gallery systems, the event hopes to inspire similar initiatives globally.
Ernest Verrett, Street Works Earth co-founder, emphasizes the event’s innovative approach: ‘By reclaiming public space as a platform for creativity in collaboration with audiences, we are offering alternatives to traditional forms of art and activism.’
The festival has garnered support from various partners, including the Environmental Defense Fund, the Frontline Resources Institute, the NYC Racial Equity Endowment Fund, and Pinterest. Additionally, it received public funds from the Queens Arts Fund, a re-grant program supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
As climate change continues to be a pressing global issue, events like Street Works Earth demonstrate the power of combining art, community engagement, and environmental activism. By bringing these elements together in a public space, the festival aims to make climate action more accessible and engaging for a diverse audience, potentially serving as a model for future initiatives in communities worldwide.
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