Arts-based attentional practices for transformative relationships with biodiversity

Musiques de l’ébène (MDLE), a French non-profit organisation founded in 1995, seeks to join a multidisciplinary consortium in order to investigate how artistic and cultural practices can contribute to transformative change for biodiversity.

Our central hypothesis is that transformative change depends on how people pay attention to, perceive and value the living world around them.

We propose to design, test and evaluate arts-based attentional practices that could transform relationships with biodiversity and contribute to changes in individual behaviours, collective practices and decision-making.

Drawing on its experience in participatory arts, music, storytelling, sensory exploration and collective creation, MDLE proposes to develop experimental approaches combining:

• Attentional walks: guided exploration through listening, observation, silence and sensory perception.

• Listening to ecosystems: exploring soundscapes and relationships between human and non-human components of the environment.

• Ordinary biodiversity: observing overlooked species, traces, objects and ecological interactions in everyday landscapes.

• Local narratives: collecting inhabitants' memories, experiences and knowledge of environmental changes.

Territorial living lab

Our living lab is established in the rural Aube valley in Burgundy and Grand Est regions, France, involving inhabitants, schools, associations, researchers and local authorities.

Its rivers, forests, agricultural landscapes and rural communities offer opportunities to investigate relationships between everyday environments, biodiversity and local practices.

MDLE's expertise and potential role

MDLE brings over 30 years of experience in artistic creation, participatory education and intercultural cooperation, including Erasmus+ project coordination.

The organisation also benefits from pro bono expertise in European research and innovation projects, including experience in Horizon 2020 project coordination and Horizon Europe Cluster 2 project management.