Art, Energy and Imagination: Celebrating 20 years of creative power at Regen

At Regen, we’ve long understood that the clean energy transition is not only a technical challenge, but a cultural one. New infrastructure, markets and policies are essential, but they are not enough on their own.

This report captures what we’ve learned from over 20 years of working with artists, poets, designers, musicians and community practitioners: that creativity opens doors. It helps people make sense of complexity, see themselves as part of change, and rehearse futures that feel desirable, fair and possible.

As the pace of the transition accelerates, these insights feel more urgent than ever.

What’s inside

Art, Energy and Imagination documents a body of work that has often sat quietly alongside Regen’s technical and policy leadership – but which has had a powerful and lasting impact.

Inside the report you’ll find:

• A timeline of creative practice at Regen, from early artistic collaborations to the Art Lab and beyond
• Reflections on what creativity offers the energy transition, from sense-making and participation to wellbeing and resilience
• Honest discussion of the barriers to cross-sector collaboration, and what helps overcome them
• Case studies showcasing artists and projects that have shaped thinking locally, nationally and internationally
• Learning on how creative practice strengthens teams, partnerships and organisational culture
• A forward-looking exploration of what comes next, including the proposed Creative Power: Community Energy and the Arts School

More than a retrospective

While this report celebrates 20 years of work, it is not a closing chapter. Again and again, our experience shows that creative engagement is not decoration or “nice-to-have” communication. It is core infrastructure for participation, trust and agency in a fast-changing energy system. The report argues that if we want a transition that is fair, inclusive and publicly supported, we must invest not only in technologies and markets, but also in imagination, relationships and inner capacity, the human dimensions of systems change.

An invitation

We hope this publication is useful to:

• Energy organisations exploring new ways to engage communities
• Cultural practitioners interested in climate and energy work
• Policymakers, funders and educators shaping the next phase of the transition
• Anyone curious about how art and imagination can help us live well through change

Most of all, it is an invitation to continue the conversation – and to recognise creativity as a renewable resource for the work ahead.

Read the full report: Art, Energy and Imagination: 20 Years of Creative Power
If you’d like to discuss partnerships, learning exchanges or future programmes, we’d love to hear from you.

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