Artist as Changemaker: Shumaila Hemani
The artists participating in the Artist as Changemaker Residency and Fellowship Program have been diligently immersed in their projects, and we are thrilled to take a peek at their creative endeavours in anticipation of the upcoming final showcase scheduled for May 2024.
Shumaila Hemani - Artist as Changemaker Resident
Partner: Alberta Ecotrust
How Might We: How might we fight the stigma of energy poverty amongst individuals living on a low income in Alberta?
Who’s involved - Alberta Ecotrust, Community Participants
Purpose:
Research by Alberta Ecotrust reveals that newcomers, ethnic minorities, seniors, single parents, and people with disabilities are disproportionately affected. Energy poverty transcends mere financial strain or occasional missed payments; its impact varies widely depending on individuals' circumstances and lived experiences.
Shumaila’s involvement in this work stems from personal experiences related to how energy affordability disproportionately impacts communities of newcomers, particularly those from certain ethnic backgrounds. Her project, Energy Matters: Breaking Barriers to Combat Energy unAffordability in Alberta with Deep Listening Workshops, confronts the systemic barriers perpetuating energy poverty, amplifies marginalized voices, and advocates for a more equitable future, aligning closely with her values and aspirations. Through this endeavour, they aspire to contribute to the alleviation of the burden of energy poverty for families and communities, fostering resilience, empowerment, and social justice.
Project Description:
During her residency with the Artist as Changemakers program, Shumaila’s project, Energy Matters: Breaking Barriers to Combat Energy unAffordability in Alberta with Deep Listening Workshops, merged community-engaged/participatory music-making with a focus on climate/energy stakeholders and communities grappling with energy affordability, aims to combat the stigma surrounding energy poverty among low-income individuals in Alberta. Through participatory deep listening workshops, she established a safe environment for dialogue on the issues affecting energy affordability in the province. Discussions included topics such as electricity deregulation, fossil fuel dependency, and the lack of sufficient government policies to support vulnerable populations with home upgrades for energy efficiency and facilitate the transition to clean electricity, crucial for Alberta's future as Canada moves towards Net Zero emissions.
Employing sound art as her medium, Shumaila captured the soundscape of both domestic and external environments, sharing personal journeys in addressing energy affordability, and offered critical insights into the systemic barriers perpetuating energy injustice in our communities. In her work, a unanimous consensus emerged. There's an urgent need to amplify marginalized voices, challenge prevailing narratives, and advocate for a more equitable and sustainable energy future for all residents of Alberta.
How would you describe the impact of this work?
The impact of our work continues to unfold, extending beyond the workshops themselves. The series of workshops facilitated by Shumaila has left a profound impression on climate stakeholders, as evidenced by Helen Corbett, CEO of the All One Sky Foundation. In her correspondence with Alberta Ecotrust, she expressed amazement at the innovative approach of combining art with climate change advocacy.
The potential of this work is immense, with Corbett envisioning possibilities such as establishing a sound lab at the Banff Centre to further amplify the voices and sounds of those marginalized by energy poverty. This testament highlights the ongoing impact of the workshops and underscores the importance of innovative approaches in addressing complex societal issues such as energy affordability and climate change.
The workshops were also documented in the Canadian New Music Network's PCM Hub and Arts for Social Change Deck Cards for contributing to the Deep Listening approach within Arts for Social Change and as an innovative project.