Journeys Through Time & Climate
By Becky Lovegrove
The climate emergency affects all of us - but it does not affect all of us equally. We know that disabled people are disproportionately affected by the impacts of environmental breakdown. In 2024, the National Lottery-funded project, Green and Healthy Frome, asked learning disabled artists from OpenStoryTellers to create an exhibition exploring the impact of climate change on them. You can find out more about this collaboration online.
The public exhibition - An All Round Hullabaloo - took place in winter 2024 and showcased five projects around key themes of textiles, rivers, food, transport and waste. The show included photographs, garments, videos, 3D sculpture and mandalas.
Image Caption: The ‘Wool Influencers’ exhibit, reflecting on how locally grown fibres could be used as a counter to fast fashion and plastic-based clothing.
Image Credit: OpenStoryTellers
One of the exhibits was called, ‘Journeys Through Time and Climate’ - a short film bringing together live action, animation, personal stories and vibrant illustrations created by four artists with learning disabilities. The film was inspired by their regular bus journeys through the Somerset countryside to OpenStoryTellers in Frome.
Image Caption: A still image of an android figure, taken from the ‘Journeys Through Time and Climate’ animation.
Image Credit: OpenStoryTellers
Howard Vause, the animator and film maker who worked with the OpenStoryTellers’ artists to realise this film, says of the collaboration:
“As we travel through changing seasons, we reflect on how climate change will shape future journeys - where the landscape of today might look very different tomorrow. But this is no ordinary bus ride: the rolling hills of Somerset carry echoes of ancient myths and medieval stories, turning a simple commute into a passage through time. Each trip becomes an adventure, connecting past, present, and future, with nature as both guide and companion”.
The film has a message which reaches across time and space, speaking volumes about climate injustice. The artists’ stories explore the specific challenges experienced by learning disabled people who rely on public transport and who need to feel safe in their community. The team has deservedly won several awards for their film!
After the exhibition, OpenStoryTellers made a longer film about ‘the making of’ An All Round Hullabaloo, which shows the creative process, from scoping ideas to making the work and meeting the public during the exhibition. The film showcases OpenStoryTellers’ unique way of working - empowering learning disabled artists to take a lead role in creating art, music and drama which often explores and challenges discrimination and inequity.
You can find both films on OpenStoryTellers’ Vimeo channel:
Journeys through Time and Climate:
https://vimeo.com/1062533608?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
The Making of An All Round Hullabaloo:
https://vimeo.com/1073854732/ab98fc32a4?fl=pl&fe=sh
Please contact OpenStoryTellers if you’d like to find out more or discuss opportunities to work together:
OpenStoryTellers, @frome_openstorytellers, info@openstorytellers.org.uk
Green and Healthy Frome will continue until the end of April 2026 when our Climate Action Lottery Fund completes - we are open to collaboration!
Green and Healthy Frome, @ghfuturefrome, greenhealth@edventurefrome.org