Rising Waters |September 19-28, 2025

Field School is a multi-part gathering guided by shared questions of our ecological, infrastructural and cultural entanglements with water. The Lower Sunshine Coast is defined by its proximity to the ocean. With over 509 kilometres of coastline, flooding from sea level rise and increased storm wave action is a growing hazard facing the region.

Thinking with sinku (open waters), and learning from the rising of the kw’útl’-kwu (salt water), the Field School brings together artists, ecologists, civil servants and community practitioners to consider this predicted future. Two days of interdisciplinary dialogue, cultural experiences, walks and gatherings will deepen considerations of flooding and rising sea levels, and provide the context for the making of cultural reflections. In particular Field School asks how art can contribute to addressing the challenges and risks for vulnerable areas and how our communities can become more resilient to coastal flooding. Field School will culminate in a public sharing cabaret, allowing for an expanded conversation.

https://letstalk.scrd.ca/coastal-flooding