Climate of Art

About the Program

Category: Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

The Miami-Dade Public Library System’s (MDPLS) Climate of Art (COA) program inspires Library patrons to learn about climate change by creating artwork reflecting the impact of the human population on the environment. For three consecutive months, Library patrons attend art workshops at the West Kendall Regional Library and create works of art based on the conservation of the planet and the effects of global warming. These works of art are then curated and displayed during the program’s culminating, special two-day event and exhibit. Patrons produce drawings, paintings, mixed media installations, photographs and videos. Participants work with the staff to plan and curate the art exhibit. The 2019 COA Exhibit was conducted on May 11-12, 2019. The COA is a family-friendly program for people of all ages. Children are provided age-appropriate materials to work on their projects. Teens and adults can work as individuals or in teams to create more elaborate works of art. Teenagers play an important role in the planning of the COA Event and Exhibit. They also conduct special performances during the two-day event. This past year, for example, one of the teens modeled an upcycled dress for the attending public. They also create video montages that are played during the exhibit bringing attention to the negative effect that litter and pollution have on animals and nature. In the months leading to the COA Exhibit, there are special presentations conducted by community organizations, artists and performers who bring inspiration and awareness to all participants. The result of this work is the creation of over 100 works of art that are then curated to form part of the COA Event and Exhibit. More importantly, the COA program supports a community dialogue on the timely preservation of earth’s natural resources.