Established in 2010, CLIMARTE works to harness the creative power of the arts to inform, engage and inspire action towards a fairer, zero emissions future. Underpinned by climate science, it seeks, through the arts, to amplify and mobilise public responses to the climate crisis.
David was the founding supporter of the organisation at a time when ‘Climate Change’ was not allowed to be spoken of in the corridors of government. From 2014 to 2020, David provided financial support and office accommodation at his Melbourne based architecture practice for the agency. During this time, under the leadership of Guy Abrahams and Bronwyn Johnson, CLIMARTE produced the ART+CLIMATE=CHANGE festivals in 2015, 2017 and by Bronwyn Johnson in 2019. These included visual arts exhibitions, performance, and international guest speakers. Two books on the work of CLIMARTE were published by Melbourne University Press, ART+CLIMATE=CHANGE (2016) edited by Guy Abrahams, Bronwyn Johnson, and Kelly Gellatly, and the second ART+CLIMATE=CHANGE II (2020) edited by Bronwyn Johnson and Kelly Gellatly. Both publications feature commissioned essays on the intersectionality of art and environment and are a record of the many significant festival programs.
David was a Board Member and Treasurer from 2017-21.
