24 Jul 2023
A pop-up gig in the city centre will kick off a year of events and projects promoting sustainability and environmental awareness.
The Greenart Effect programme is a St Albans Arts Team initiative which aims to raise awareness of environmental issues by providing eclectic, inclusive carbon neutral arts projects and events.
It will also encourage walking and cycling locally, highlight local green spaces, partner with local green and environmental groups, offer performance and exhibition opportunity for local artists, include young people and adults with disabilities, utilise low emission equipment and fully recyclable materials and instigate debate and positive thinking around environmental issues.
The opening gig at St Albans Clock Tower runs from 12noon – 3pm on August 13 and will feature New Roots finalists Alice and Juliet Beadle along with local singer-songwriter Abbie Gathard and the ever-popular Purple All-Stars.
As sisters, Alice and Juliet have been playing together for as long as they can remember.
“They both run music societies, organise ceilidhs, perform gigs and are regular buskers. At the moment they are interested in the broadside ballads of the 17th century, but also have dalliances with the medieval, and adventures into Nordic folk music.
There will also be infectious dancing and singing from local legends The Purple All-Stars! One of the aims of this award-winning group is to raise awareness about mental and physical health as well as social isolation, inclusion and equality for people with learning disabilities.
Abbie Gathard is a pop and acoustic, singer-songwriter and guitarist whose influences include Katie Melua and Norah Jones. She performs frequently at various venues, private events and festivals. Abbie connects to her audience through the deep, meaningful stories, told through her songs.
As well as regular live music events, The Greenart Effect year will include a Greenart Trail, featuring environmentally focused submissions from local artists, photographers and poets as well as a community Reyclart project creating original mosaics from discarded objects.
One of the organisers of The Greenart Effect, Grae Wall said: “We sat down as a team at the start of the year and chatted about what we might focus on, whether there was a theme we might want to work with.
“Sustainability and environmental issues was really at the top of all our individual agendas and felt like something that we could help to encourage thought and conversation around. It has also really helped us to focus our own minds around the ways we operate, the equipment and materials we use.
“These are issues that touch everyone and there’s an obvious sense of urgency there, it can feel a bit overwhelming.”
“We have already had amazing conversations with a number of groups and activists with whom we hope to partner, and the projects and events we have planned will offer an opportunity for everyone across the district to get involved and focus on hopefully leaving our little planet in better shape for generations to come.”
You can keep abreast of Greenart events at facebook.com/SAASHArts and anyone interested in submitting artwork, photography or poetry for the Greenart Trail should contact Grae Wall at graewall@everyoneactive.com
