Open call to artists to address the theme climate and health

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland invites artists to submit a piece of visual art exploring the theme of Climate and Health for an exhibition at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland to be held in October 2023, during St Luke’s Annual Symposium.

The exhibition is part of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland’s commitment to advocacy around the huge challenges we are facing triggered by climate change and the impact this will have on the world’s population, which arose as a key advocacy priority during national consultations with our physicians. The College wishes to provide a space for discussion of the challenges of climate breakdown and for the formulation and promotion of solutions to the climate crisis. Art is one way of articulating the personal and collective feelings and stories around this challenge and for envisioning shared solutions that protect health and the planet.

Climate breakdown and human health are highly interwoven. Burning fossil fuels is the greatest contributor to global heating and causes increased rates of cardio-respiratory illness and premature death. Health effects of extreme weather events include hypothermia, dehydration, kidney disease, stroke, malnutrition, and water-borne infections. A paradox is that healthcare delivery itself contributes significantly to global heating. If the healthcare sector were a country, it would be the 5th largest polluter in the world.

We need to find ways to protect our health and protect the planet. How we travel, how we eat, how we consume, how we provide essential services – these can be our stumbling blocks, or they can represent opportunities for a just future.

Artists who are established, emerging, or enjoy creating art as a hobby, are invited to submit a piece of art in any medium, including painting, photography, sculpture, and video, that has been completed within the last three years and aligns with the theme or new work created in response to the theme.

The winning entry will receive a prize of €2,000 with two additional artists receiving a prize of €300 each. Works may be in any medium including painting, photography, sculpture, and video.   

Selected works will be exhibited at the historic home of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, No.6 Kildare St, Dublin 2, from 16 – 20 October 2023. Works will also be displayed on a visual platform online.  

St Luke's Symposium takes place from 16 to 19 October 2023 under the theme of Climate Change and Health. A full programme of events will be announced shortly. 

View Submission Guidelines