Introduction
The Great Barrier Reef [GBR] eco-arts trail will raise awareness around the critical issues the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority [GBRMPA] is addressing to support the health and conservation of the World Heritage site while highlighting ReefHQ and Reef Guardian partners’ efforts. It will embrace the connection between science and the arts to engage audiences. While the relationship between the arts and science are often overlooked in the present day, compelling examples date back to antiquity highlighting how science and mathematics has shaped architecture, inspired designs, influenced paintings and transformed the performing arts (Strosberg, 2001). This arts and science connection will be brought together for a common purpose, including improving general awareness of issues and public campaigns, aiding community development, reinforcing values and beliefs and building an environmentally sustainable culture (Curtis, 2011).
The eco-arts trail will offer a tourist path through local towns and council districts stopping at eye-catching and engaging ecologically-focused community murals, sculptures or artworks. The Australian Silo Art Trail (Figure 1) is a functioning arts trail where silos and water towers that were a town eyesore are transformed into aesthetically engaging artworks that increased tourism in Regional Australia (Green & Green, 2017). Over the past 30 years, community murals have become collaborative endeavours as they focus on hiring local artists and involving residents (Conrad, 1995).
This campaign will empower local communities to create a series of eco-murals in public spaces that bring awareness to the issues threatening the reef. Eco-murals generate increased interest in environmental concerns, assist in developing solutions and help strengthen communities (Ulbricht, 1998). They also invite spectators to ‘see, feel, experience and commit to’ the need for environmental action (Desai & Chalmers, 2007). They provide moments of engagement for tourists and locals alike.
This campaign will focus on community engagement and communicating local understandings to a global audience. To achieve our desired impact, we have determined there are three main focuses that require further investigation: message and art form, the location of the artworks, and social media sharing.
