The Energy in Motion Conference took place at Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) and the V & A museum Dundee from 8-10th June 2025.
Supported by the Centre for Energy Ethics, based at the University of St Andrews, the event featured a range of spoken paper presentations, workshops, films, exhibits, and performances responding to the following questions:
- How might we understand, represent, and respond to the emotional demands of the climate crisis, across diverse cultural, geographic, and political contexts?
- How can the arts further academic thinking, and scholars in turn support creative practitioners, towards imagining more sustainable energy futures together?
Dan Lee and Anne Bevan outside the V&A Dundee
Representing TRANSECTS, Anne Bevan and Dan Lee co-presented a paper introducing the overall project, focussing on interdisciplinary art and archaeological approaches and responses to energy transitions in relation to coastal communities. This chimed closely with the overall themes of the conference and with fellow delegates, resulting in valuable new connections made and plans to follow up with future collaboration. There were around 100 attendees, mostly in person and some online. Over the three days there was a rich choice of academic presentations, practical creative workshops and art exhibitions held in these inspiring venues, as well as in other locations in Dundee.
Conference exhibition at DCA
Stage set for the Cheviot the Stag and the Black Black Oil – Collection of V&A Dundee
Mela Shaw – Sounding Line exhibition at the MacManus Galleries