Art Walk Projects aim to develop a series of public conversations with artists, scientists, farmers, landscape architects, and climatologists that establish a strategy for achieving net zero for coastal communities, specifically relating to food, farming, and local coastal ecologies for North East Edinburgh (Portobello and Craigentinny). Their project is about gaining input from local people that can guide ways forward for projects that impact change for the coastal community at Edinburgh’s coast. In a region that is affected by climate change, such as the rise of sea level, the project will ascertain the place of food and discuss its future within the community to help frame ways to reach the city’s target of net zero by 2050.

Comprising four days of activity outdoors on Portobello Beach as part of the 2024 ‘UnderCurrent’ Art Walk Porty Festival, the funded project ‘Thrift: Climate Conversations’ will engage local communities through participatory multidisciplinary arts/science engagement.

Founder and Artistic Director Rosy Naylor commented, “We are so very delighted to receive the support from the RSE and the Williamson Trust; it will enable us to develop our new project ‘Thrift: Climate Conversations’ involving local coastal communities in conversations around issues of food production, farming, and coastal ecologies of North East Edinburgh. It will support a rich multidisciplinary approach, engaging the local public around possible future food environments.”