Mission & Story

 

"Insectes Sans Frontières"

Pestival aims to initiate a cultural shift in the way people think, moving them towards a more integrated way of looking at the natural world. Pestival's lasting legacy is to forge new working relationships between disciplines, communities and species. Pestival says "Insectes Sans Frontières".

Pestival believes insects are critical to human life on Earth. With over a million insect species, they are the most diverse group of animals on Earth. And yet insects are frequently misunderstood, reviled or, at best, ignored by the majority of the  human population.

 

Pestival has set out to challenge existing stereotypes about insects and to give them their rightful place, for good and bad (vectors and pollinators), in our collective cultural consciousness.

 

Our goals:

• To continue to offer a new working model that functions on a variety of social, civic and ethical levels; moving freely between local, national and international context, in a populist and educational way.
• To fuse the disciplines of science and art through the understanding of insects.
• To unite people in action and thought, enabling individuals and communities to come together on culturally relevant issues across international boundaries.

The story so far...

 Bridget Nicholls, Pestival's Director and founder:

"I came up with the idea for Pestival back in 2004 after visiting an insect film festival called FIFI in the Pyrenees. Pestival is a celebration of life its forms.

 

Pestival simply, effectively and entertainingly reconnects us with our most important social network, our planet. No preaching, no lecturing, just serious science and culture delivered in a fun way. Pestival employs art, entertainment and science to encourage a greater understanding of the natural world.

Pestival 2006 - The first!

Pestival 2006, held at the London Wetland Centre in Barnes, south London, was a great success. Over 10,000 people came from all walks of life to celebrate these little guys who run the earth.

 

Something had been hatched. Pestival actually thinks we humans might be the Pests...as only 1% of insects really are. The other 99% are looking after the planet.
 

 

Pestival at London's Southbank Centre in 2009

Pestival 2009 at the Southbank Centre was a tremendous success, seeing a 20-fold increase in visitors to 200,000. It featured 50 free interactive events and numerous experts at the cutting edge of art and science, and was supported by over 260 volunteers. Over 10 million people worldwide were reached by Pestival’s press campaign. Media coverage included all broadsheet newspapers, high art and serious science journals, music and culture magazines, Time Out, ITV News and BBC Radio 4’s The Today Programme.

In addition there was international press coverage including The New York Times and Nippon TV. BBC London Weather even broadcast their TV report live from inside the Termite Pavilion.

 

Of the 10% of visitors surveyed, 98% had changed their view of insects and their importance to the health of the planet and our daily lives. Insects had gone high profile! It be come known as the " Glastonbury of the natural world".
 

 

Insects and the global human community

The great thing about insects is they are universal, you find them nearly everywhere around the world. SO they are a cool way to connect to local communities. We at Pestival say "Insectes Sans Frontières".  And with that it gives me great pleasure to announce Pestival will be going to Brazil in 2012. The home of the Amazon; the pulsing heart of insect life.

Pestival goes global

We are now immersed in a 3 year residency at ZSL London Zoo and are based in a Shepperd's hut next to the Snowdon Aviary. Which gives us a great way to connect with to the scientists, conservationists educators and of course insects to make new and interesting work. I am still mesmerised by insects and what they do.

 

From your first bite, to being at the forefront in discovery for arts and sciences. to the fact they eat you when you die. Insects are a fascinating inspiration to me. I realise now George Orwell nearly got it right...but in fact it should be 'Four legs good. Six legs... better.'