Using the visual and performing arts to change and challenge environmental beliefs, raise awareness, and communicate environmental information in the extension (outreach) context

Background/Question/Methods Part of the reason for the continuing decline of Australia's environment is a technical failure in getting information to all in the community, and convincing people to change their land-use management or patterns of consumption so they are ecologically sustainable. This paper introduces the concept of the visual and performing arts being useful in affecting environmental behaviour at the individual, community and societal level. The arts appear to have special qualities at: helping increase understanding and knowledge; aiding in communication and enabling more people to be engaged; provoking changes in individuals, communities or society; affirming beliefs; evoking an emotional response; and providing a spiritual dimension that makes people more connected with the natural environment. Despite these special abilities of the arts few practitioners in environmental education or extension (outreach) use the arts to any great extent to assist in the communication of their messages. Results/Conclusions The paper provides a theoretical perspective with which to view the role of the arts, by providing a model which describes the different pathways through which the arts can affect environmental behaviour. It then surveys (1) how the arts and science have met historically and contemporaneously, focusing on examples from ecology such as wildlife and botanical art, and (2) how extension (outreach) practitioners view the arts in the extension context. The paper then moves into the practical realm through the presentation of examples from environmental education and extension where practitioners have successfully integrated the visual and performing arts in their practice. It will give some practical ways that the visual and performing arts can be included in extension and community education programs on ecology, such as in the preparation of educational materials, music concerts, street theatre, artworks, festivals and events. It will present elements from a training kit that is currently in preparation. The paper will include a detailed examination of a case study in which the arts were used to promote revegetation and ecological repair in a landscape ravaged by rural dieback.