Bristol Ecoshow July 30 – arts help Bristol go green

“The message of climate change will fail without artists,” declares Saint Stephen’s priest-in-charge, Canon Tim Higgins. He’s hosting the Bristol Ecoshow, a re-telling of the story of Bristol – with a green slant.

David Mowat, founder of the Bristol Ecoshow and jazz musician, agrees.

“Arts practitioners can play a vital role in helping Bristol become a more sustainable city,” he says.

“They can bring people to a place of contemplation and action through community involvement and imagination.

“Even if you are not sure about whether climate change is man-made or not, you can still engage in the issues of sustainability, from a gut-level rather than your head.”

As Saint Stephen’s musical curator, David Mowat has been bringing together top artistes to perform at the ancient city church’s lunchtime concerts for over a year.

Now they are coming together for this unique performance.

Conceived from scratch, the evening performance is a multi-arts celebration of eco-projects that have been active over the preceding weeks, with film, procession, theatre, and even a garden on stage to illustrate the importance of growing local food.

The Bridging Place tells Bristol’s history – and future possibilities – in both spoken and sung narrative with the Clear Sounds Choir, made up of blind and visually impaired people.

“We move from the dead-hand of reality to poetic possibility.

“There has to be enchantment and a little make-believe,” says David Mowat, whose background is in community development work.

Saint Stephen’s is the ideal setting for several reasons.

Historically, it is Bristol’s harbour church, built on the city’s first reclaimed land, when the Frome river was altered in the 13th century to form Broad Quay.

This is where merchants sailed to explore, trade and plunder the world to create the city’s wealth.

Musically, Saint Stephen’s is  a cultural centre, where musicians help create community.

As David Mowat puts it: “Music provides respite from the busy city centre. People come with their varied, individual spiritualities, not necessarily Christian, finding common ground as both listeners and performers.”

The church has a spiritual role to play in the green movement too.

“Saint Stephen’s is about reversing the tide,” says David Mowat.

“Instead of looking outside us for material wealth, we look inside. One consequence of discovering inner treasure might be anguish at the way we treat the world. In turn, this might help us shift our behaviour.”

Performance begins 7.30pm

Tickets £8/£6 are on sale from Saint Stephen’s Cafe or ring 0117 955 9444

With thanks for funding from the Religious Society Of Friends, Quartet Community Foundation and Bristol City Council Parks, Arts and Development Fund