A new exhibition comes to Salford, showcasing a selection of comic art which tackles environmental issues.

The Ten Years to Save the World exhibition will take place from 7th December – 14th January at the Open Centre in MediaCityUK and feature ten artists from the UK and the Philippines.

The project is a collaboration between Manchester-based organisation Creative Concern, who specialise on sustainability issues, The Lakes International Comic Arts Festival and Komiket in the Philippines.

It is also supported by the British Council as part of a number of creative commissions in response to COP26.

Julie Tait, Director of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival said: “We’ve already seen changes in the weather and flooding which is undoubtedly a climate change issue.

“The fact that our weather pattern has moved in a more challenging and dangerous direction must be linked with deforestation and the other things going on to damage the environment.

“This is affecting people in Salford and the whole of the North West.”

The Ten Years to Save the World comics address pressing worldwide environmental issues including ocean pollution, deforestation, plastics, greenwashing, corporate corruption and climate justice.

“We’re seeing effects here which are sometimes being enacted on the other side of the world so we think it isn’t relevant to us, it’s not our fault or there’s nothing we can do about it.” said Julie.

“That’s evidently not the case. Individually we can make a difference and collectively we can make even more of a difference.”

Julie Tait, Director of Lakes International Comic Arts Festival

Many people were dissatisfied with the outcome of COP26, wanting to see more done in a shorter space of time.

Julie agreed that more could be done. “When we put together our artist’s briefs, we had some conversations with young people about what they think would make a difference.

“Their view is that we need to focus our energy on lobbying the big corporations and governments, they are the only people who have the power to make a significant difference.

“We can carry on using paper straws instead of plastic straws and reusing our carrier bags, but let’s face it that is not going to be enough to make the changes that are needed.”

Resources by Clarice Tudor

The internationally celebrated artists involved, who are listed at the bottom, believe comic art is a powerful way of communicating climate change issues.

Julie said: “A lot of people don’t want to read a long article on climate change but when you give them a powerful image with a few words attached, it can wake them up and make them think.”

If you are unable to attend the exhibition, there is a digital version of the comics available on the website. You will also find information on what you can do to help climate change.

Featured artists: Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, Clarice Tudor, Darren Cullen, Emiliana Kampilan, Jack Teagle, Kevin Eric Raymundo, Manix Abrera, Ren Galeno, Sayra Begum and Zoom Rockman.

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