The ability of arts and culture to foster a sense of community and help us understand the past, interpret the present, and imagine the future is often celebrated. Yet in today’s political climate, these vital human endeavours are both devalued and instrumentalised. Neoliberal economic orthodoxy, the rise of the far right, the dominance of tech corporations, and unregulated AI all add to an already precarious situation for artists and cultural workers. Still, instances of cultural resistance offer reason for hope. Recognising the value of arts and culture and their potential to contribute to a just ecological transformation, this edition aims to open a space for what both the green movement and the creative sectors see as the key to healthy democracies – dialogue, pluralism, and mutual understanding – without erasing productive conflict.