Knowledge does not often inspire action. Feelings like compassion and anger do. Good art generates passion.
Here’s a relevant excerpt from an article written by an artist in recent issue of SEED magazine:
The point is that the artists’ view is invaluable precisely because they are not experts and do not have the authority granted by science. They are only as persuasive as their images. As nonexperts—though interested and knowledgeable—they stand in for the view of the everyman. This reflects the nature of urban and natural systems. They transcend boundaries; they transcend borders, disciplines, issues, and expertise. With art, the viewer knows that she has a license to interpret, to critically evaluate the work, that her opinion matters.
Toronto artist Franke James exemplifies this in a series of beautiful and powerful visual essays on environmental topics on her website. Franke has a very personal and thoughtful take which brings home some of the dry and terrible facts of climate change. Highly recommended.
Also be sure to check out Franke’s timely visual essay that has been featured in newspapers and likely to become a classic:
Stephen Leahy, International Environmental Journalist 
[…] drew their attention to a post by Stephen Leahy, Environmental Journalist who wrote about the role artists could play in inspiring change. […]
[…] Artists are desperately needed to help us understand the impacts of climate change at an emotional level and to inspire action. Information and knowledge are not nearly enough. As Franke wisely notes: “Think of this: If any one of us stands up and tells a group an idea we have, it may spread — or it may disappear into the ether. A far more effective way to make an idea spread is to give it ‘tangible form’.” […]
[…] 2007, Stephen Leahy, Environmental Journalist wrote about my work and the role artists can play in inspiring change. “Knowledge does not often inspire action. Feelings like compassion […]
[…] Artists Desperately Needed to Inspire Change « Stephen Leahy,[…] Artists are desperately needed to help us understand the impacts of climate change at an emotional level and to inspire action. Information and knowledge are not nearly enough. […]
[…] https://stephenleahy.net/2007/06/02/artists-desperately-needed-to-inspire-change/ […]