e59 pearl – positive tipping points

• 'SCALE (Sectoral Climate Arts Leadership for the Emergency) is a national round table for the arts and culture sector to mobilize around the climate emergency. A few months ago, you and I, and a few others were all having the same realization that while there was a lot of important work and projects happening at the intersection of arts and sustainability in Canada, there lacked some kind of structure to bring this work together, to align activities, to develop a national strategy, and to deeply, deeply question the role of arts and culture in the climate emergency and activate the leadership of the sector in terms of the mobilization that needs to happen in wider society. SCALE is really trying to become that gathering place that will engender that high level collaboration, which hopefully will create those positive tipping points.'

Judi Pearl, e59 conscient podcast, Ottawa

Judi Pearl is currently Associate Producer, Artistic Projects for English Theatre at the National Arts Centre and a board member for The Only Animal. Previously, she served for ten years on the board of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres. A passionate environmental activist since her teen years, she is honoured to be a part of the inaugural Coordinating Circle for Sectoral Climate Arts Leadership for the Emergency (SCALE), an emergent national hub dedicated to developing strategy, aligning activities and activating the leadership of Canada's arts and culture sector in the climate emergency. She is grateful to live and work on unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory, nestled between the Rideau Canal and the Rideau River.

I first met Judi while I was working on greening activities for the Canada Council for the Arts. Judi was doing similar work at the National Arts Centre and we collaborated on a number of projects. I then had the privilege of working with Judi to set up SCALE, where we both put our organizational skills to use and enjoy taking the climate emergency bull by the horns. 

Judi’s positive and ‘can do’ spirit is remarkable and contagious. I was uplifted by our walk by the Rideau River in Ottawa and think you will be as well. 

I would like to thank Judi for taking the time to speak with me, for sharing her passion for theatre and the environment, her deep commitment to climate justice and her exceptional skills as an organizer and eco arts leader. 

For more information on some of Judi’s work, see https://nac-cna.ca/en/englishtheatre

Links

• Michael E. Mann, The New Climate War
• Outrage & Optimism Podcast
• David Maggs' Art and the World After This

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END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa). 

It’s my way to give back.

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish free ‘a calm presence' Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.

Your feedback is always welcome at [email protected] and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.

Share what you like, etc

I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on July 8, 2025