COAL Art and Sustainability
COAL, the Coalition for art and sustainable development, is the principal French participant to support the unmissable role of creation in the struggle against climate change and to support the emergence of a true culture of ecology.
COAL organizes and curates contemporary art exhibitions and impulses cultural programs on sustainable development stakes (UNESCO, La Villette, la Gaîté lyrique, FIAC, Domaine départemental de Chamarande, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, Berges de Seine…), organizes each year the COAL Prize Art and Environment, establishes knowledge and spreads the topic through european cooperation (French representative of Imagine2020 and Creative Climate Leadership networks), counsel, public lectures, publications and the daily update of Ressource0 (www.ressource0.com), the first media and resources centre dedicated to both national and international initiatives gathering arts and ecologies.
Since 2010, COAL participates in the implementation of a national strategy of action on the topic, with the French ministries of Environment, Energy and Sea and of Culture and Communication.
As such, COAL implemented in 2015 ArtCOP21, the cultural Agenda of COP21.
With more than 550 events registered, 54 countries represented, the installation of major artworks in public space and about 250 international artists and professionals gathered at Gaîté lyrique in Paris for the Conference of Creative Parties, COAL managed to reveal and inscribe culture at the ecological transition agenda.
TEAM AND FOUNDERS
Lauranne Germond, Co-Founder and Director (COAL) / Associate Curator at Domaine de Chamarande / Exhibition Curator specialized in sustainable development / Former Associate and co-Director of Nuke magazine art gallery and design office / Former project for MPG Art / Degree in Art history (Louvre).
Maëva Blandin, Production Manager PO / Graduate Professional Master Arts and Crafts Exhibition, Rennes University.
Loïc Fel, co-Founder (COAL) / Philosopher / BETC’ Sustainable Development Director / Author of “L’Esthétique Verte” (Champ Vallon, 2009) / Doctor of Philosophy Paris -Sorbonne on aesthetics and ecology.
Agathe Utard, co-Founder (COAL) / Landscape Gardener / Philosopher / Consultant in sustainable development and social innovation / Former head of strategic projects of Fédération des conservatoires botaniques nationaux / Asia Project Manager for Cécile Léon art projects / Master’s degree in philosophy, Paris1 – Sorbonne / Master of Geopolitics, HEI-Paris / Master of Landscape, Uni-Genève.
Clément Willemin, co-Founder (COAL) / Landscape Gardener DPLG / Partner and manager of BASE Agency / Visual artist (decorative arts ENSAAMA Olivier de Serres).
ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Déborah Sommers, with over 25 years experience as a graphic designer and art director, in the US, Hong Kong and Paris, deborah Sommers runs Outdoorz Gallery. The graphic look to many of the pieces reflects her own style which leans towards clean modern lines, quirky original designs, and recycled or sustainable materials when possible. Her graphic sensibility is aslo reflected in the web site and communication materials which play an integral role in the running of the gallery.
Anaïs Roesch, is graduated from the Institut Etudes Politiques de Grenoble. She is interested in issues related to culture and ecology in an international perspective and has had occasion to work in Latin America with the Ministry of Culture and UNESCO, in Bolivia or with people Native to Chile. She searches to link art and politics around issues of contemporary society. She is currently responsible for the development of mediation actions hors-les-murs to Centre Pompidou.
COAL was set up in France in 2008 by Alice Audouin, Loïc Fel, Lauranne Germond, Guillaume Robic, Agathe Utard and Clément Willemin.
