Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF), as a proud consortium member alongside the University of Galway, is participating in the PACESETTERS Summit, taking place in Málaga, Spain this week.
Opened by Teresa Ribera, Vice-President of the European Commission, the PACESETTERS Summit brings together leaders from the arts, culture, research and policy sectors to explore how creativity can drive Europe’s climate transition and competitive edge.
Far from a traditional conference, the Summit reimagines what a gathering of creative thinkers and practitioners can be. Framed as “A Polyclinic of Creative Practice”, it has transformed La Térmica, a former hospital in Málaga, into a dynamic, experimental space for collaboration - part film set, part research lab, part performance.
The PACESETTERS Summit aims to address urgent questions at the intersection of creativity and climate action: How can art and culture sustain momentum for the green transition amid shifting political priorities and engagement fatigue? How can creative practice inspire new forms of resilience, innovation and collaboration across Europe?
GIAF and the University of Galway are honoured to contribute to this pioneering international initiative, bringing insights from Ireland’s vibrant cultural and creative ecosystem to the conversation. Together with fellow consortium members, GIAF is engaging in co-developing future-facing approaches to cultural policy, artistic intelligence and creative sustainability.
As part of the PACESETTERS programme, Galway International Arts Festival became a Climate Transition Laboratory during this year’s Festival. The Funeral for Ashes exhibition, by Conor Maloney and John Conneely, at the Festival Printworks Gallery formed the case study for this laboratory. An immersive, interactive experience honouring Ireland’s ash woodlands - now facing the risk of extinction - Funeral for Ashes was a contemplative installation featuring 3D scans of Irish ash trees and their surrounding habitats.
Working with PACESETTERS, GIAF has also begun a long-term process of measuring the carbon footprint of the Festival, a project expected to span three years. In 2025, GIAF took an important first step by forensically measuring the carbon footprint of Funeral for Ashes, with the ambition of creating a template for future analysis of exhibitions and events’ environmental impact across the Festival.
For more information on the PACESETTERS Summit, visit pacesetters.eu/
