KUNSTHUIS Gallery's spring exhibition at Dutch House, Crayke, will present more than 100 international artists' response to the environment and climate change.

Running from Saturday (March 24) to December 23, Our eARTh will showcase work from Britain, Poland, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, United States, Greece, Brazil and Israel.

"How are artists, educators, curators and galleries responding to climate change?" asks Kunsthuis Gallery's Susanne Davies. "What forms of art and its mediation are evolving along with our understanding of the crisis? Can art communicate the impacts of climate change and the environment more effectively than facts and figures? Kunsthuis Gallery believes so."

York Press:

Sleepers (1), by Brian Voce

Kunsthuis Gallery is housed in an outbuilding of the former Mill Green Farm, on the road between Crayke and Brandsby, near York, where Dutch House owners Sjaak Kastelijn and Cecile Creemers run a 1.6 acre wildlife garden with an ecological ethos. Furthermore, the site is on the boundaries of the Howardian Hills, which has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

"Yorkshire, where our gallery is located, is witnessing the imminent threat of fracking, a process which should not be underestimated following the toxic and radioactive nightmare seen in the US, Canada and Australia," says Susanne.

"Kunsthuis Gallery is curating this exciting exhibition in the mediums of photography, ceramics, sculpture, illustration, painting, printmaking, drawing, textiles, glass, collage, digital and jewellery to showcase how artists are responding to this growing issue of climate change. We'll also be working with the Howardian Hills organisation, who will conduct informative talks at the gallery.

York Press:

Summer Mileus, by Ije

"Due to the nature of our gallery's location and ethos, we're extremely passionate about this subject, so we'll be donating five per cent sales commission for our chosen charity, Friends of the Earth, the world’s largest environmental campaigning organisation, in order to raise awareness with our visitors."

Kunsthuis Gallery is inviting artists and visitors to "share positive stories about climate action, to take steps to provide deeper support for political leaders to legislate change and for us all to go green".

"As curators of this show, we believe the arts has a major role and responsibility to encourage and provide knowledge to our audiences towards the environmental sustainability that we need to protect life on our beautiful planet," says Susanne.

York Press:

Barley Stone, by Gordon Senior

"We've selected works which inspire us. We want to create a vision to help motivate our audiences actions. We believe the arts are a powerful tool in order to achieve this, by communicating awareness of what is going on around us."

Kunsthuis Gallery will play host to an afternoon event to mark the opening of the Our eARTh exhibition on Saturday (March 24) from 3pm to 6pm. Those wanting to attend should register their free attendance by emailing susanne@kunsthuisgallery.com. 

At 4pm, guest speakers will reflect on the importance of this Kunsthuis show. Friends of The Earth, an environmental charity campaigning for a safer climate, will talk about their organisation and Emma Farley, from Little Silver Hedgehog, will give an insight into her hedgehog rescue.

Cecile Creemers, owner and curator of Kunsthuis Gallery, will discuss the exhibition and how the gallery has donated a tree to the Dutch House wildlife garden for planting by Sjaak Kastelijn. She will give details too of how the Howardian Hills organisation and volunteers will be building a hedgehog house and insect hotel in the gardens.

Kunsthuis Gallery opening hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 4pm.