Dream on the Farm "Conference for Those Still Living"

A group of people are summoned to a farm by their mutual friend, a world-class ornithologist, for a weekend Climate Change conference. His guests include international artists, scientists, and activists. When the ornithologist does not show up at his own conference, the event is disrupted, and a mystery ensues as to his whereabouts. As the attendees navigate the conference in the absence of their friend, anxiety and loss become tangible themes both in the climate change discussion and in their response to his disappearance. The conference becomes something nobody quite expected. Conference for Those Still Living is play #5 of Farm Arts Collective’s decade-long climate change series called DREAM ON THE FARM. It is an immersive and site-specific play that concludes with a shared meal to offer space (and nourishment) to continue the conversation inspired by the performance. We believe that Climate Change is the greatest local and global issue of our time. As rural artists, we are compelled to address this issue as it affects everyone, especially the most vulnerable. We have told many stories in the DREAM ON THE FARM series and have observed that art has a profound way of addressing climate change. We aim to offer our community an artful message that will hopefully inspire action and ideas for bettering our community.