SHIFT Festival
A stimulating, provocative and energising climate festival at Southbank Centre inspired by Cape Farewell’s expeditions to the High Arctic and Andes.
In January 2010 Cape Farewell presented SHIFT at London’s Southbank Centre. An awesome 8-day music-led climate festival featuring debate, concerts, site-wide installations and exhibitions.
The festival centrepiece comprised two sensational concerts at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which saw Marcus Brigstocke sharing a stage with Ed Milliband, electric performances from KT Tunstall, Graham Coxon, Robyn Hitchcock, Shlomo, Max Eastley, Liam Frost and others. The shows were headlined by musicians who joined the Cape Farewell 2008 voyage and showcased new music by KT Tunstall and Shlomo.
Marcus Brigstocke with special guests
Concert
On Friday night comedian Marcus Brigstocke, a seasoned Cape Farewell voyager, introduced some very special guests including Dan Antopolski, Alistair McGowan, Mitch Benn, Russell Howard, Shlomo, Lemn Sissay and politician Ed Miliband, in a night of comedy and music uniting against climate change.
Robyn Hitchcock presents a Maritime Evening
Concert
Saturday night saw Robyn Hitchcock and friends gathered for a night of music celebrating Robyn’s Arctic expedition with Cape Farewell in 2008, featuring special guests including Graham Coxon, KT Tunstall and Kathryn Williams.
Max Eastley & Liam Frost
Friday Tonic
Soundscapes met acoustic guitar in a special edition of Friday Tonic, featuring a double bill of Cape Farewell voyagers Max Eastley and Liam Frost in the Front Room at Queen Elisabeth Hall.
SHIFT Encounters
Panel Discussions
Architects discussed the creative process of engaging with climate change, and how to envision and build a sustainable future. Climate scientists spoke about the role of culture and art in helping to communicate climate science, and artists discussed the creative process of engaging with climate change.
Beth Derbyshire and Nick Edwards
Projections
Projected onto external walls of Southbank Centre buildings, Cape Farewell presented work made by artists in response to their expeditions to the High Arctic. Video projections included Beth Derbyshire’s Anthem (developed in partnership with Eden Project), and work by Nick Edwards.
London College of Fashion showcase
Sustainable Fashion
Queen Elizabeth Hall hosted the next generation of style with substance. London College of Fashion’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion showcased work from its inaugural MA Fashion & the Environment and highlights from Fashioning the Future 2009, the international student awards for sustainability in fashion.
Local Wisdom at SHIFT
Sustainable Fashion
The public were encouraged to be part of a unique fashion research project organised by the Centre of Sustainable Fashion, London College of Fashion to record and celebrate the clothes we wear and the way that we wear them.
By the Dollis Brook Route
day of Exploration
Three walks followed the route of a previous urban expedition lead by Nick Edwards. Re-laid on the London map, the route took participants into areas of London rarely visited on foot. Following the expeditions students shared their findings with the public. This project was led by Nick Edwards, Professor Chris Wainwright and students from Camberwell, Chelsea & Wimbledon Colleges.
Behind the Scenes
Climate Change Events
Two unique events put climate change debate and discussion at the forefront of the Southbank. The 10 was the first in an international series of cross-disciplinary visioning sessions with leading figures in the climate change arena. Next Generation Tipping Point provided a day-long open space forum for young people.
Cape Farewell works with partners to collectively inspire creative and visionary responses to climate change for the 21st Century. SHIFT was developed in collaboration with partners including: Southbank Centre, Tipping Point, University of the Arts London: Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon Colleges, London College of Fashion, Department of Energy and Climate Change, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SE1 United. Cape Farewell is embarking on a long-term partnership with Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon Colleges, encouraging a new generation of artists to address the issues of climate change, building it into their thinking and practice.
