Earth Day Season, Somerset House

With sunshine and mid-20s temps in mid-February and children marching out of their classrooms to protest climate change, we don't need much persuading to take an extra interest in the environment.

Somerset House is showing us new ways to engage with climate action and exploring creative responses to climate change with an exciting two-week programme of (mostly) free large-scale installations and interactive events celebrating Earth Day this April 2019.

Some highlights? Environmental artist Justin Bryce Guariglia has brought together writings from some of the top climate change activists from around the world, including 16-year-old Greta Thunberg and philosopher Timothy Morton, in REDUCE SPEED NOW!, his new courtyard installation consisting of nine large solar-powered LED signs typically seen on motorways.

Another immersive art installation from Somerset House Studios artists Hyphen-Labs uses graphics and animations to explore an underwater dystopian future, while Serena Korda's flag and audio work, Khaos Spirit, looks to the sky to explore society's relationship with the elements.

On Tuesday, 16 April, you can even meet the artists behind the installations at a free late-night event at Somerset House, featuring a reading of new, unpublished poems from Selina Nwulu, former Young Poet Laureate for London, with snacks and drinks from 'waste' produce courtesy of Skye Gyngell's Spring restaurant.

There are also talks, screenings and workshops across the two weeks. On Saturday, 27 April, there are family-friendly mass-mushrooming sessions, where attendees can start their own mini-mushroom farm, while Do The Green Thing invites families to create their own climate change protest posters to challenge environmental breakdown.

The fashionably inclined should look out for textile workshops about bio-designing fabrics and fashion's link to climate activism, alongside an interactive textile exhibition on innovative approaches to textiles.