CIAO!’s Children’s Climate Change Conference has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark by the Cultural Olympiad in recognition of the values that the project has in common with Olympic ideals.

The conference launches the Ark Project which asks children to imagine what, if they were sailing away on an Ark to a low carbon future, they would take with them and what they would leave behind? 

The Children’s Climate Change Conference will take place at the historic Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford on Thursday 14th January 2010, when presentations will be delivered to an audience of 600 primary school children from ten Oxfordshire schools. Speakers include leading scientists and engineers who will give the children insight into exciting and inspirational developments in science and technology, providing positive visions of a sustainable future. Professor Brenda Boardman and Dr Malcolm McCulloch from the University of Oxford among others, will be covering topics from future transport, eco-housing and biodiversity through to the changing climate.

Emma Howell, Ark Project Director said; “The conference showcases exciting and innovative aspects of science to inspire children about the potential opportunity and beauty a low carbon world offers.”

Following the conference each school will work with a scientist to explore an aspect of environmental science. This will then be translated into an artistic creation with an arts partner and these include the Oxford Playhouse, Pegasus Theatre, the Roald Dahl Museum, Nick Cope of The Candyskins, the Animation Station and other individual artists. Architecture Sans Frontières will construct the Ark (a stunning arts installation art) large enough to exhibit the children’s artwork, hold workshops and stage performances. The project culminates in June 2010 when the Ark takes up its position in a central Oxford location for members of the public to visit and take part in a varied programme of events.

During this time a reverse conference will be held allowing children to share their visions and findings with an invited audience of scientists, policy makers and politicians as well as the science and arts community.

Karen Draisey, CIAO!’s Artistic Director said; “We are very proud to have achieved the London 2012 Inspire Mark for the Children’s Climate Change Conference. It reflects on the extraordinary range of partners that the project is bringing together.”

To download a full information pack detailing the CIAO! Children’s Climate Change Conference and the CIAO! Ark Project go to www.ciaofestival.org.uk. If you would like to attend the conference please contact Paula Clark on tel: 01865 263181 or email: pclark@ciaofestival.org.uk.

The CIAO! Ark is an environmental arts and science project, positively tackling many of the issues and perceptions surrounding climate change. It will take place in 2010, involving the participation of ten Oxfordshire primary schools, resulting in an Ark being built in a central Oxford location as an exhibition and performance space to display work created by school children and local community groups.

Working with cutting edge environmental scientists and engineers and many of Oxford’s cultural organisations and professional artists, children will be asked ‘If you were sailing away on an Ark in order to create a low carbon future, what would you take with you and what would you leave behind?’ The artists and scientists will work with children in the schools to help them formulate their responses and translate their visions creatively into art works and performances for the Ark.

Theatre designer Nomi Everall of Pegasus Theatre is working with Oxford based, Architecture sans Frontières on the design and construction of the Ark, which will be built from reclaimed materials harvested in the Oxford area. Large enough to exhibit art works, hold workshops and stage performances, the Ark will provide a centrepiece for the CIAO! Festival in June 2010, when the general public will be able to visit the Ark and take part in events celebrating low carbon living.

The project will be launched in January 2010 with an inspirational conference at the Sheldonian Theatre where 600 primary school children will hear from some of the country’s leading scientists working in the environment, such as Professor Brenda Boardman, expert in energy and future housing and Dr Malcolm McCulloch and Dr Shaun Savage talking about future transport. By June 2010, during the CIAO! Festival roles will be reversed in a second conference, when children will present their findings to an audience of scientists and policy makers, giving young people the opportunity to make their voices heard and express their views on the world they will grow up in.

Emma Howell, Ark Project Director said; “Climate change is rapidly moving up the agenda, with the Copenhagen negotiations at the end of the year, this project aims to present these issues in a positive, inspiring and empowering way, so that everyone feels they can have a role to play in shaping a low carbon future.”

A range of funders is making this project possible. Arts Council England is the latest confirmed funding partner with its award of £150,000, for which CIAO! is still raising match funding.

Karen Draisey, CIAO!’s Artistic Director said; “We are delighted by the Arts Council’s decision which endorses CIAO!’s work in developing children’s arts in the region. It also recognises the partnerships that have been created between artists, scientists, architects, educators and children. Our efforts to make this ambitious project a reality has been underpinned by Oxford’s cultural development agency Oxford Inspires and we look forward to working with them and with Science Oxford on their exciting programme for 2010.”

For a full information pack on CIAO! Festival and The Ark Project go to www.ciaofestival.org.uk. If you are interested in supporting the project you can call 01865 263181 or email info@ciaofestival.org.uk.