Bridging Art, Academia, and Activism to Uncover Lived Experiences of Climate Conflict

A recent two-day workshop, funded by the Amsterdam Centre for Conflict Studies (ACCS), tackled the complexities of representing violence in a world increasingly shaped by climate change. In collaboration with Mbare Art Space, the University of Zimbabwe, and the University of Amsterdam's Anthropology department including Professor Eileen Moyer, Dr Linda Musariri and PhD candidate Emily Ragus, the event brought together a diverse group of artists, storytellers, writers, and academics from disciplines spanning digital humanities to social sciences.

The workshop explored storytelling as a powerful tool for creating meaning within "broken worlds." In the context of climate violence—where environmental degradation intersects with social inequality and upheaval—narratives offer a unique way to uncover lived experiences often hidden behind data or policy frameworks. The workshop featured an art exhibition by Mbare Space Artists in Residence, who reflected on their personal experiences and relationships with the conflicts arising from mining in Zimbabwe.