Conceptualizing impact in sustainability and the arts: Understanding the role of arts organizations through the case of CreativePEI

Abstract

As humanity learns about mitigating and adapting to the worst effects of climate change, the inextricable link with culture becomes increasingly clear: in order for society to adopt pro-environmental and climate-positive ways of living, culture must change. Scholars are increasingly contributing to the emerging field of sustainability and the arts (SATA), however, this body of scholarship has not yet effectively tackled the specific role of arts organizations and their potentialities for impact. This thesis investigates the role and impact of arts organization CreativePEI in responding to climate change. The results demonstrated the unique overlap between the organization’s skills and things heralded in SATA literature as key offerings the arts can make to sustainability work. The results showcase a robust engagement with climate change by an organization not explicitly mandated to do climate work, demonstrating how existing arts activities and capabilities can be viewed through a climate lens.