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The Ringling Presents Artists and Climate Change Incubator Multiday Event Features National Expert Contact Name: Virginia Harshman Contact Email: virginia.harshman@ringling.org Contact Phone Number: 941-359-5700 ext 2803 Sarasota, Florida-The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is pleased to announce they will be offering an Artists and Climate Change Incubator with Chantal Bilodeau of The Arctic Cycle (NYC). The program, which will include interdisciplinary conversations, interaction with exhibits, film and workshops will be held Nov. 21-24, 2019. The Incubator is an intensive workshop for artists, activists, scientists, citizens and educators interested in engaging, or furthering their engagement with, climate change through the arts. Intended for an intimate working group, it provides a space for focused reflection, exchange of ideas, learning from other fields, and expanding possibilities beyond traditional forms and venues. Elizabeth Doud, The Ringling’s Currie-Kohlman Curator of Performance and organizer of the event said “This is a unique and transformational experience at the crossroads of environment and culture with facilitated dialogues, practical exercises, exhibits, walks and film at the museum and botanical gardens of The Ringling. During this three and a half day intensive, participants interact with accomplished guest speakers from fields such as environmental humanities, climate science, climate change activism, and visual and performing arts.” Lead by the co-founder of the groundbreaking Climate Change Theatre Action, Chantal Bilodeau, work sessions allow everyone to dig deep into the challenges and concerns of working at the intersection of arts and climate change. Discussions will explore embracing activism without sacrificing personal vision and artistic integrity, letting go of the idea of "product," and bringing the arts to nontraditional audiences. The cost for the multiday event is $250, $225 for Members and $125 for Students. Full museum admission from Nov. 22-24, is included with the Incubator and parking is free. Discount hotel rates are available for out of town participants. Several of the events that are included with the incubator will be open to the public, including the exhibit/experience Joseph’s Coat, by James Turrell, and one of the museum’s On Screen offerings. The film Landfill Harmonic will be shown Nov. 22, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. in the Historic Asolo Theater. Landfill Harmonic follows the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, a Paraguayan musical youth group who live next to one of South America’s largest landfills. This unlikely orchestra plays music from instruments made entirely out of garbage. When their story goes viral, the orchestra is catapulted into the global spotlight. With the guidance of their music director, Favio Chávez, they must navigate this new world of arenas and sold out concerts. However, when a natural disaster devastates their community, the orchestra provides a source of hope for the town. Cost is $20 or $18 for Members. On Nov. 23, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. The Ringling will host a Conversation with Chantal Bilodeau of The Arctic Cycle and a community panel. The event is open to general audiences, and will provide an opportunity for the public to preview the work that the incubator participants have been exploring and researching and touch on how the arts intersect with local issues. This conversation will provide a thought-driven examination of the challenges of encouraging positive action by using artistic practices in addressing climate change. Cost is 5.00 or free for members. Chantal Bilodeau is a playwright and translator whose work focuses on the intersection of science, policy, arts and climate change. She is the Artistic Director of The Arctic Cycle, an organization that uses theater to foster conversations about our global climate crisis, create an empowering vision of the future, and encourage people to take action. She runs the online platform Artists & Climate Change, and is a co-organizer of Climate Change Theatre Action – a worldwide series of readings and performances of short climate change plays presented in support of the United Nations COP meetings. She curates the HowlRound series Theatre in the Age of Climate Change and is working on a cycle of eight plays that look at the social and environmental changes taking place in the eight countries of the Arctic. Additional information and tickets may be found at ringling.org/events/artists-and-climate-change-incubator or by calling 941-360-7399. ### About The Ringling The Ringling is a center for art, history and learning situated on 66 acres on Sarasota Bay. It is built on the legacy of circus entrepreneur, collector of art and financier John Ringling and his wife Mable. The Ringling inspires visitors with an acclaimed collection of Old Master paintings, explores with them the diverse cultures and art of Asia, delights them with the story of the American circus, and transports them to the Roaring Twenties during a tour of the magnificent Ca’ d’Zan mansion. The Ringling is also committed to exhibiting the work of an emerging community of living artists that moves beyond traditional practice and features dynamic and engaging contemporary visual and performing arts, including a diverse roster of theater, music and dance. The Ringling is the State Art Museum of Florida. Affiliated with Florida State University, it is one of the largest university art centers in the nation. Media Contacts The Ringling: Virginia Harshman Public relations specialist Virginia.harshman@ringling.org 941-359-5700 X 2803