Up Close and Policy: Public Art and Public Policy

‘Public policy of all kinds requires the insights and guidance of artists, without whom we cannot fully understand the society we live in, or even who we are.’
– Jean Johnstone and Michael O’Hare, (2024) Art for policy and policy for art, in Journal of Public Affairs Education

What role can art play in shaping public discourse and policy? How can creative practice bring urgent social and environmental challenges into public view—and public action?

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation exploring the intersection between public art and public policy, through the lens of Breathe—a landmark public artwork by artist Dryden Goodwin, produced by Invisible Dust.

Since 2012, Breathe has animated urban infrastructure in London and Lahore through hauntingly beautiful pencil-drawn animations, projected on city buildings, bridges, and billboards, engaging over 13 million viewers with the invisible crisis of air pollution. This ambitious art-science project not only visualises the often-overlooked impacts of air pollution, but also forges multi-sector collaborations across science, government, transport, and education.

In this Up Close and Policy Dryden Goodwin and Lucy Wood (Senior Creative Producer, Invisible Dust) will share insights into the making of Breathe, the challenges and triumphs of working in public space, and how artistic interventions can meaningfully influence policy, civic engagement, and collective imagination.

What to expect:

• A visual presentation of Breathe and its evolution over the past decade

• Discussion on art’s capacity to influence public health discourse and environmental policy

• Reflections on collaboration across sectors (artists, scientists, policymakers, campaigners)

• Q&A with the speakers

Who should attend:
Artists, cultural practitioners, policy professionals, public health advocates, urban planners, environmentalists, researchers, and anyone interested in the intersection of creativity, society, and systemic change.

About the speakers:

Dryden Goodwin is a Professor at the Slade School of Fine Art, UCL, he is the Slade Research Tutor based in the doctoral programme. His work as an artist is defined by a rich dialogue between drawing, animation, photography, film and sound. He has consistently focused on the human figure, questioning the portrait form. His work offers a speculative vision that considers the uncertain processes of looking and representing, both in relation to what is experienced and what is seen. He makes work for public spaces, galleries, museums, and cinemas, exploring themes of intimacy, anonymity, proximity, and distance. He considers the dynamics of human relationships - whether between strangers, within communities, in work environments, or among families and friends - addressing both individual and collective identities. He also explores urgent environmental and societal issues.

Other projects in public space besides ‘Breathe’ include 'Linear' (2010) for Art on the Underground. Solo exhibitions include 'Alongside', QUAD, Derby (2020); 'Un-Earth', OCAT Xi'an, China (2018); 'Unseen: The Lives of Looking', Queen's House, Royal Museums. Greenwich (2015); 'Cast', Hasselblad Foundation, Gothenburg (2009) and The Photographers' Gallery (2008). Recent group exhibitions include Lahore Biennale LB03 (2024), Salisbury Cathedral (2024), and Welcome Collection (2022). Film festival nominations include 'Best Feature Documentary' at CPH DOX, Copenhagen (2015), and the 24th Camerimage, Bydgoszcz, Poland (2016). His work is held in public collections including MoMA New York, the Tate Collection, National Portrait Gallery and the Science Museum.

Lucy Wood is a freelance creative producer specialising in art-science and environmental justice; for the past 12 years delivering public art installations and engagement programmes catalysing dialogue and action around pressing environmental issues; collaborating with artists, scientists, thought-leaders and campaigners across the UK and globally. Associate Producer for art-science charity Invisible Dust, Lucy was previously UK Director of environmental arts charity, Cape Farewell.

Current projects include Matthew Rosier’s Luton Henge for Nature Calling (opening 26th July 2025) and the National Trust/University of Exeter RENEW young people’s project on acoustic ecology. Previously, Lucy managed Under Her Eye: Women and Climate Change Summit at the British Library, headlined by writer Margaret Atwood (2018), produced the P.E.A-award winning Milking Parlour installation in Bristol with artist Nessie Reid (2016), and led the UK delivery of the major global ArtCop21festival for the landmark Paris Climate Conference (2015)

Lucy has written for various publications, including The Guardian, South Atlantic Quarterly and Run Riot.

About the series

How are policy decisions made and who informs them? In a landscape marked by diverse information and competing concerns, where does academic research find its place in the complex realm of policy-making? How can researchers and policymakers collaboratively address some of the most pressing challenges?

UCL Public Policy brings you Up Close and Policy, providing insight into the way the research community informs policy-making. You will hear from UCL researchers who have worked with UK policymakers in various capacities, ranging from Policy Fellows within government departments, to serving as Chief Scientific Advisors. These experts will share their firsthand experiences, detailing the dynamics of navigating diverse cultural landscapes to produce more evidence-informed policies.

The series explores questions about the requisite skills and expertise, the benefits accruing to UCL, individuals, and host institutions, and the tangible real-world changes achievable through policy engagement. The series delves into these inquiries and unravel the intricate connections between academic research and the policymaking process.

We welcome UCL researchers, professional services and policy actors working in government and third-party groups. The series will be available online on Teams.