Eco-Poetics and Environmental Artivism

Eco-Poetics and Environmental Artivism
A Transdisciplinary Conference
Conference webpage:

July 11: In person participation at Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park (and online)
July 12: Fully online

Fees (for both attendees and presenters):
£180 (In person participation)
£90 (Online participation)

The London Arts-Based Research Centre is delighted to announce the upcoming Eco-Poetics and Environmental Artivism hybrid conference in London, taking place at Pembroke Lodge in the iconic Richmond Park on July 11, 2024 (as well as fully online on July 12).

Richmond Park, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a National Nature Reserve (NNR) due to its rich biodiversity and important habitats, offers an immersive experience to the conference theme, which aims to explore the intersections between creativity, ecology, and environmental activism. Environmental aesthetics in different art forms such as poetry, writing, painting, photography, fashion and fabrics, sculpture, drama, dance, film and music play significant roles in shaping our aesthetic appreciation of the natural world around and within us.

We seek to bring together scholars, creatives, and arts-based researchers to discuss a wide array of topics on ecopoetics and various kinds of eco-aesthetics while looking at recent trends and innovations in the creative field, as well as the future directions of eco-creativity.

Ecopoetics, as well as other types of environmental artivism, attempts to locate us—humans—in the world, with the intention of focusing on ecology (from Greek oikos, or “home” and logos, or “reason”). So environmental aesthetics contemplate the way we exist within this oikos and how this “home” is perceived; they also navigate the borders between human and non-human nature, and how images, places, spaces and memories assist our desire to explore the self in the world. Ecopoetry and environmental artivism in general, therefore, view humanity’s relationship with the planet, instead of merely focusing on the unfolding scenes of nature through different modes of art; thus, they highlight the complexities of our interrelationships within and our responsibilities toward our environment.

We welcome proposals from scholars, poets, activists and creatives from diverse backgrounds and disciplines (including literary studies, cultural studies, philosophy, environmental studies, and creative writing) whose work engages with ecological themes and environmental concerns in creative expression.

We invite proposals for 15-minute academic or creative presentations that engage with (but are not limited to) the following topics:

• Arts-based research projects and methods in environmental studies
• Ecological imagination and poetic language
• Poetry and environmental justice
• The role of poetry and other forms of art in environmental activism
• The representation of nature and the non-human in creativity
• Ecopoetry and the Anthropocene
• Ecofeminism and poetry
• Eco-poetics and eco-criticism
• Environmental ethics and poetic practice
• The symbolism of water in creative works and/or religion
• Environmental symbolism in myths and folktales
• Creative depictions of nature as sacred
• Nature and photography
• Wildlife in docuseries and film
• Sustainable fashion and innovations in synthetic material
• Future directions in environmental aesthetics
• Ecopoetics and language
• Ecofeminist perspectives in the visual and performing arts
• Utopian/dystopian depictions of nature in literature and film
• Environmentalism in music
• Environmental photography
• The impact of the environment on creative thinking
• Creative technology for environmental art (eg: astrophotography, fashion, digital art)
• Environment-friendly innovations in the culinary arts
• Modernist and post-modernist ecology in literature and visual art

Nestled within one of London's most cherished green spaces, the historic Pembroke Lodge offers a serene and picturesque environment that is sure to enhance the conference experience.

Richmond Park itself holds a special place in London's natural landscape as its largest Royal Park, boasting vast open spaces, ancient woodlands, and diverse wildlife habitats. As one of the largest urban parks in Europe, it serves as a vital green lung for the city, providing a haven for both residents and visitors to connect with nature.

Some fun facts about Pembroke Lodge:

Pembroke Lodge has a long and storied history, dating back to the 17th century when it was originally built as a hunting lodge for King Henry VIII. Over the centuries, it evolved into a royal residence and later served as a private estate before being transformed into its current iteration as a public venue.

The Russell Suite within Pembroke Lodge is named after Lord John Russell, also grandfather of philosopher Bertrand Russell, a prominent political figure who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on two occasions during the mid-19th century.

Host or Publisher London Arts-Based Research Centre