Fostering empathy for endangered animals through creative writing and drawing

Piloting creative writing and drawing workshops to tackle the global ecological crisis.

Biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate, yet only a few endangered species – such as polar bears, penguins and pandas – capture the headlines, while most extinctions happen out of sight. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s ‘Red List of Threatened Species’, 41% of amphibians are threatened with extinction, as are 37% of sharks and rays, and 36% of reef-building corals.

In collaboration with curators at the National Museum Cardiff, three public workshops invited adult participants to imaginatively project themselves into the lives of endangered animals through drawing exercises and the power of poetry.

In the workshops, the participants, many of whom had little or no experience in creative writing or drawing, were guided through a series of activities. These involved responding to the specimens of endangered animals in the Museum’s Natural History collection, including a white-clawed crayfish, pink sea fan, noble pen shell, a scaly-foot gastropod, and hawksbill turtle.

Enhancing knowledge of endangered animals

Participants were invited to observe, describe, and draw these animals, imagine what it would be like to be one of these creatures, and, through writing, try to capture what it might be like to experience the world through their lens.

Creative activities were infused by the knowledge and passion of the curators. Did you know that the tree pangolin is being hunted for the medicinal properties associated with its scales or that the scaly-foot gastropod is made of iron?

Post-workshop interviews captured the impact of the workshops on participants' feelings about endangered animals and their attitudes towards nature. One described how the workshop had ‘enhanced their knowledge and understanding’ of endangered animals. Another participant started litter picking in the local community after the workshop.

Next steps

The project team is now working on enlarging the project's scope to create a workshop toolkit for individuals or organisations who would like to use creative writing and drawing to develop a greater understanding of, and empathy with, endangered animals and foster positive action for the planet.

Contact

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