As the climate crisis accelerates, how can artists’ residencies be testing grounds for new – and better – ways of living and working?

A 9-part podcast series brings together artists, researchers and activists from across the Nordic region and Scotland to explore this question.

Each episode in the series looks at the crisis through the lens of one artists’ residency. In the second episode, we travel deep into the Arctic Circle, to Longyearbyen – home of Artica Svalbard – to hear a conversation between an architect and an anthropologist about how climate change is affecting people’s relationship with their built environment. Episode three features Skaftfell Art Center in Iceland and examines how arts institutions and artists can be more sustainable – in terms of their impact not only on the environment, but also on local communities. Our seventh episode explores ideas of decolonisation in art and “the art world”, both in the Nordic region specifically, and more broadly.

Check out our bonus epsiode ‘Seasickness/Cur na Mara’, a short story commissioned by NAARCA from Gaelic writer Mairi Macleod.

Testing Grounds is produced and edited by Katie Revell and includes original music by Loris S. Sarid and artwork by Jagoda Sadowska.

Listen at the link below or search for “Testing Grounds” in your favourite podcast app.

Captioned versions of the episodes are available on Cove Park’s YouTube channel.