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The Hard Rain Project (HRP), founded in 2005, runs a programme of impactful ESD projects, addressing the broad challenges of climate change, poverty eradication and the environment. It works with world-renowned artists, scientists and communicators to bring its message to students at schools and universities, and to a wider public, through exhibitions, books, films, talks and events. HRP’s founder, Mark Edwards, is one of the most widely published photographers in the world, recognized as the first to specialize in sustainable development issues.
HRP receives the Prize for its international exhibition projects “Hard Rain” and its follow-up “Whole Earth?”.
“Hard Rain” and “Whole Earth?”
The original “Hard Rain” exhibition is a collaboration with singer and songwriter Bob Dylan. It features a 60-metre long outdoor display in which each line of Dylan’s song ‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’ is illustrated with world-class photographs bringing global challenges alive in a moving and unforgettable way.
Its successor exhibition “Whole Earth?” offers solutions in the fields of climate, energy, fresh water, oceans and agriculture, but also in areas such as human rights and economic rule-making. It proposes new ways of thinking and incites visitors to action. The exhibition and associated activities are currently touring universities globally, and the content is being adapted for classrooms around the world.
“Hard Rain” and “Whole Earth?” bring arts and science together in a highly original way to reach the next generation of leaders, decision-makers and citizens. They provide an essential first step in engaging them to confront the urgent need to transition to a more sustainable world.
More than 15 million people have already seen the exhibitions at over 150 venues worldwide, including in city centres, botanical gardens, more than 50 universities and schools and at the UN Headquarters in New York. Talks have been presented at universities in all world regions and in places as diverse as national parliaments, prisons, companies and at leading music and arts festivals.
International Jury Recommendation:
“The Hard Rain Project is a highly original international initiative harnessing the power of visual media blending art and science to raise awareness across the spectrum of pressing global issues, but also to stimulate thinking and inspire action towards more positive futures. There is evidence of its effectiveness in reaching a broad range of society including policy-makers, and providing high impact resources for educators globally. It also offers a model to those who seek to use visual and other creative means to promote education for sustainable development and address the SDGs.”
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