"[A] powerful contribution to ongoing conversations about art, ecology, and activism." Rebecca Zorach, Prof. Art and Art History, Northwestern Univ

When does practice become protest? Or protest, poetry?

Award-winning documentary filmmaker Fiona Cunningham-Reid presents an intimate portrait of internationally acclaimed artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey, who work at the intersection of art, activism, biology and ecology.

Uncompromisingly preoccupied with the climate and ecological crisis, Ackroyd & Harvey's work has become a rallying cry for the environmental movement, winning them international acclaim and a global following.

With some of their pieces standing in prestigious galleries and others embedded in nature, their work not only references the natural world, but also regularly employs it.

The film offers singular access into the lives, work and partnership of the artists, and their quest to shake humanity into action on climate catastrophe - whatever the personal cost - including their collaboration with Extinction Rebellion, and co-founding the movement Culture Declares Emergency.

Meticulous and thoughtful, this careful study of a lifelong creative partnership asks questions of where art and hope - and love - stand in our very uncertain world.



Grade Level: 10-12, College, Adults
US Release Date: 2026     Copyright Date: 2024
DVD ISBN: 1-961192-55-1

Reviews "If this era of climate backpedaling is leaving you without hope, stop what you are doing and watch this film - It will help you rethink the climate crisis. Stunning and deeply moving, the art of Akroyd and Harvey helps us pause and see previously hidden juxtapositions and contradictions, creating space for radical and more generous re-imaginings of our relationships with nature and with each other. This film will be of great interest to those interested in environmental art, civil disobedience and protest organizing." Philip Brick, Professor of Politics and Environmental Studies, Whitman College "In a society that can feel overflowing with climate doom and gloom, this is a refreshing take on a climate and activism documentary...Inspirational." Alicia Hayden, Resurgence and Ecologist "This film shows just how vital art and creativity are to environmental activism. Authoritarians target art and artists so quickly because they spark community, wonder, and passion. Told through the eyes of two eco-artists contending with personal and cultural change, this film is perfect for discussions focused on environmental action, collective movements, or hope amid eco-anxiety." Stephanie Malin, Professor of Sociology, Co-Founder, Center for Environmental Justice, Colorado State University, Co-author, Building Something Better: Environmental Crises and the Promise of Community Change "Magical. The film was so touching and humbling and emotional and tender and everything." Clare Farrell, Co-founder of Extinction Rebellion "This is not only a story about two of the world's leading artist-activists; it's also a story about how genuine collaboration emerges out of intimate, fragile, surprisingly material processes. In a world obsessed with individuals, Ackroyd and Harvey have everything to teach us about the joys and challenges of working together - both for political solidarity and for breathtaking beauty." Caroline Levine, Professor of Humanities, Cornell University, Author, The Activist Humanist: Form and Method in the Climate Crisis "[A] wise documentary...Shows it's all about the grassroots. Literally." Phil Hoad, The Guardian "This is a thoughtful portrait of the partnership between two ecological artists who offer paths of creative perseverance. Their process, materials, and finished work - much of it based on vibrant grass and trees - are vivid and beautiful. Chronicling Ackroyd and Harvey's collaboration with artists, scientists, and activist movements, the film reveals the complex and evolving ecology of the artists' relationship with one another. It will make a powerful contribution to ongoing conversations about art, ecology, and activism." Rebecca Zorach, Professor of Art and Art History, Northwestern University, Author, Art for People's Sake: Artists and Community in Black Chicago 1965-1975 "Engaging...Amiable...Vital in this age of potential environmental catastrophe." Mansel Stimpson, Film Review Daily "Aldo Leopold lamented that 'one of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds. Much of the damage inflicted on land is quite invisible to laymen.' By powerfully illuminating our ecology with art, Ackroyd and Harvey help us to feel less lonely and more willing to be the part of nature defending nature." Jason M. Wirth, Professor of Philosophy, Seattle University, Author, Mountains, Rivers and the Great Earth: Reading Gary Snyder and Dogen in an Age of Ecological Crisis "Vivid and insightful...Thoughtful...There is so much insight to be gained here." Sian Berry, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion "Ackroyd and Harvey show what's possible when rigorous thought and raw feeling meet the living world on its own terms. By infusing the power of art with the wonder of light, grass, and trees, they give us entirely new ways of thinking about and beyond the trauma of climate change. This documentary helps us grasp just why we need them, and why the earth needs them, too." Imre Szeman, Director, Institute for Environment, Conservation and Sustainability, Professor of Human Geography, University of Toronto-Scarborough "Ackroyd and Harvey: The Art of Activism doesn't just look at what it's like to be ahead of the curve, but what it really costs to do the right thing." Helen Tope, The Reviews Hub "This is a charming and compelling portrait of two artists navigating the intersection of very public environmental activism and the quieter, more intimate challenges of married life. Their provocative, nature-referential art and bold protest performances reflect a hopeful, civically engaged spirit. A thoughtful and inspiring work, it will spark lively discussion in both art and environmental studies classrooms." Barbara Allen, Professor of Science, Technology, and Society, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Author, Uneasy Alchemy: Citizens and Experts in Louisiana's Chemical Corridor Disputes