Ecological knowledge dissemination through cultural intermediaries and visual art: a Northern Ireland case study using reflexive thematic analysis

They were ten visual artists, ten cultural intermediaries and ten ecologists, all were based in Northern Ireland. The third group, the ecologists, were outside of the visual art case study, but they provided an important reference point pertaining to effective environmental knowledge. A pilot study was initially carried out, before the full field research was conducted, which determined that a projective technique method, using colour was an effective interview tool.

A reflexive thematic analysis method was used after the audio recorded semi-structured interviews of the three participating groups were transcribed. The complete dataset was first coded, and then themed. The four main generated themes were ‘environmental constructs,’ ‘environmental engagement,’ ‘artistic narrative’ and ‘artistic influence’. <br><br>The results suggested that there is limited visual art narrating environmental knowledge within the galleries of Northern Ireland.

The reason for this is multifactorial, for instance the cultural intermediaries may be overlooking the ecological emergency perhaps due to their early life experiences and their limited positive exposure to the natural environment. Furthermore, the lack of publicly funded visual art narrating the environment which is exhibited in Northern Irish galleries is likely to diminish because of the increase in urbanisation. This is problematic since visual art can assist in learning.

Consequently, if environmental art is given a platform, it may have the power to support an environmental crisis mitigation process through cultural change.<br>