By Ella Joshi, Second Year, English and Classics
In an increasingly climate conscious world, Bristol is no stranger to thinking sustainably when it comes to events, businesses, and projects happening across the city. The city is renowned for its flourishing creative scene; hardly a day goes by without there being a gig at an independently run music venue, a production showing at Bristol’s Old Vic, or a new exhibition at the RWA gallery. So how is sustainability implemented in the arts? In honour of Earth Day (22nd April), here are some events happening this month that demonstrate it can - and will - be done.
Starting in Bristol’s heart of consumerism - Broadmead’s shopping quarter - we have the Care and Repair Festival hosted by Sparks Bristol. Widely regarded as the 'centre of art and sustainability', Sparks department store implements eco-friendly practices and maintains a culture of ethical consumption in all its operations. The festival offers a 10-day series of free workshops, talks, and events focusing on reusing, recycling, and repairing clothes, accessories, and even bikes. While the festival is currently underway, make sure you don't miss out on its final events; catch the last talk regarding Bristol's own history and future with sustainability on the 19th April.
For those immersed in the sustainable fashion world, there are plenty of pop-up events happening this month that might be of interest. On the 19th April, Clothes Cycle are making their annual return to Bristol with the UK’s largest thrift market. Their main aim is to fight back against overconsumption and textile waste caused by the growing popularity of unethical fast-fashion brands. Kicking off at 11am in The Prospect Building, the event promises over a hundred stalls of preloved fashion and jewellery. It also offers clothes swaps, opportunities for free alterations, and spotlights independent nail artists and jewellery technicians based in and around Bristol. Tickets are required, but the event’s all-day live music shows, food stalls, and bars should make it well-worth the visit.
If Fashion Week is more your tempo, the University of Bristol’s very own Fashion Forward Society (FFS) are hosting their Summer Showcase, ‘ABUNDANCE’, at Lost Horizon in collaboration with the Art History Society. Their final showcase of the academic year takes place the evening of the 23rd April, and combines the eco-conscious ethos of FFS with a celebration by the creative arts community both in and outside the university. The event will be a testament to sustainability within the art world, with multiple art exhibitions displayed alongside the society’s final TRASHION runway show of the year: a fashion series that relies solely on using eco-friendly fabrics and materials. Further, in collaboration with Art Society, a wide range of prints, posters, and pottery will also be available for purchase at the event. This night is surely not one to be missed!
Yotam Livni
Hana Sakurai Wernham
In the spirit of ‘reuse, repair, and recycle’ that lies at the heart of artistic sustainability, Sparks also hosts weekly Friday sessions of their free sewing group, Community Threads, which uses recycled thread and fabrics to teach basic sewing and embroidery skills in a diverse selection of cultural styles. Feel free to also pop into their Repair Café on a Sunday, where you can repair damaged items, or simply experiment with fully-recycled materials. Nearing the end of the month (28th April), Arnolfini offers their Meet Make Mend workshop which teaches the technique of ‘Visible Mending’ to encourage people to repair clothing with art in mind; this style of repair allows for creative expression as well as lowering the environmental impact posed by overconsumption and waste in both the fashion and art worlds.
Each event offers something different to the art community’s drive to protect the environment and promote a culture of longevity, renewability, and conservation alongside the beauty of artistic expression. Be sure to check them out!
Featured image: Epigram / Ella Joshi
Will you attend any of these events?
