Performing extinction stories: exploring creative responses to bee decline

Abstract

As extinction becomes one of the most pressing crises of our time, projects that engage with nonhuman lives have emerged as a visible fixture of the creative landscape. This raises the question of what role creative explorations might play in shaping public discourse and action around extinction. In moving towards an answer to this question, this work draws on conversations with performance artists who have engaged with the topic of bee decline. This research establishes the value of performance for inspiring empathy and encouraging questioning, widening participation, and bringing learning into connection with tangible action through developing audience agency.