Climate groups launch arts partnership with Kentucky events

Artists for Climate Awareness and Uniting Artists and Scientists for Climate Action are teaming up this month to expand climate activism through art, starting with a free Louisville exhibit on July 11. The partnership also sets up panels, film screenings and a new documentary tied to Indiana forest protection efforts.

Why it matters: - The partnership links two national climate groups that want to reach more people through art, exhibitions and live events. - The collaboration centers the Midwest as a new hub for climate-focused cultural programming. - The effort aims to turn climate concern into public engagement around flooding, wildfires and forest protection.

What happened: - Artists for Climate Awareness and Uniting Artists and Scientists for Climate Action announced a new partnership this month. - The groups will open the first "Human Nature" art show in Louisville on July 11. - Louisville Visual Art is hosting the free public show. - The partnership also includes a summer of online and in-person events. - UASCA and Louisville Visual Art will host an "Art & Science" panel on August 1. - The groups will hold a film screening on August 16 with Emily Cooper and a performance by Ben Sollee.

The details: - "Human Nature" explores the intersection of art and science and the effects of climate change. - The show focuses on both human impact on the natural world and how communities can prepare for and respond to climate events. - The July 11 reception is free and will include music by Carla Gover and the Zoe Speaks Band. - Participating organizations include Art Nature Consortium, Bernheim Forest, Wendell Berry Center, City of Louisville, KAIRE, Kentucky Association of Environmental Educators, Kentucky Waterways Alliance, Louisville Climate Action Network, Mother Earth Project and Project WET. - Visual artists in the show include Lucy Azubuike, Karen Boone, Jessica Chao, Al Gorman, Clare Hirn, Devan Horton, Claire Krueger, Jill Pelto, Charlotte Pollock, Elyse Thaman, Jim Weaver and David Young. - Emmy-award winning animator Elyse Thaman will premiere a short animated film on climate change. - ACA has also been producing the documentary "Saving the Hoosier: The Fight for America’s Forests," which covers Indiana activists and the fight over Hoosier National Forest. - John Mellencamp has agreed to donate music for the film, and Hud Mellencamp will narrate. - The announcement included social links for Artists for Climate Awareness on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Between the lines: - The partnership blends activism with cultural programming, a format designed to make climate issues more accessible to wider audiences. - Dr. Fran Kremer said Louisville has been welcoming for the first event and that the groups want to partner with new communities. - Kremer said the arts have not been fully realized as a tool for climate action. - Carol Rhodes said the Mellencamp family’s involvement could help bring more artists into climate education and advocacy. - ACA says artistic expression can change behavior more than words and can help move people from climate paralysis to action. - UASCA says it works to connect artists, scientists, educators and community organizations to help communities understand, prepare for and recover from climate change.

What's next: - The Louisville show on July 11 will launch the partnership’s summer slate. - The August 1 panel and August 16 screening will extend the collaboration into late summer. - ACA is expected to keep building around the Hoosier National Forest documentary as part of its climate campaign. - UASCA will continue developing artist-scientist collaborations, exhibitions and educational programming.

The bottom line: - Climate groups are betting that art can widen the audience for environmental activism, and Kentucky is their first major stage.