Climate change festival back in East End

A festival of artistic performances and talks around climate change is coming to the East End for a second year.

More than 30 political artists will be leading events in and around Toynbee Studios in Commercial Street for the week-long Two Degrees festival.

The festival aims to bring out public debate on the recent government cuts to services and the detrimental effects they will have on the environment.

A cycling event on Sunday June 12 will include a graffiti tour of east London, a bingo bike ride and wild food foraging.

A pop-up caf� with a difference will be set up for a week with herbal medicine expert Rebecca Beinart working with powerful plants from London’s streets.

Meanwhile, a salon is welcoming in people who need a haircut and offering the service for free in exchange for swapping their opinions, experiences and thoughts with their hairdresser.

Sam Scott Wood from organising body Artsadmin said: “The festival is about empowering indivudals to go on and find out more about the issues that concern them and hopefully help bring about changes.”

Hundreds of people turned up to last year’s mix of performances, films, installations and walks.

Part of a Europe-wide initiative to get more artists to engage with the problems of climate change, the festival runs from June 12 to 18.