Arizona Heritage Center’s first exhibit with virtual reality, Climates of Inequality: Stories of Environmental Justice, opens July 12 in Tempe and will run through early December.
Valley residents are on the front-lines of discussion related to the historically low water levels on the Colorado River Watershed. This interactive exhibit investigates how this critical water source is dangerously strained and how it may impact Arizona.
By incorporating virtual reality sets and iPads, moving audio testimony, and historical imagery, the exhibit explores how the climate crisis and environmental injustice are intensifying inequality and how the experiences of the hardest-hit communities hold the key to confronting these issues.
Arizona Historical Society’s Exhibits Specialist Liz Kapp says, “This exhibit is an opportunity to explore the various ways climate injustice can leave a mark on people and their communities. Visitors can connect with local stories of Arizona’s water supply but also place themselves in the larger, interconnected environment we’re all living in.”
These stories of environmental racism, resistance, and resilience also provide critical insight into how frontline communities are experiencing and creatively responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Further exploration is available through the associated web platform.
The Arizona Heritage Center is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 1300 N. College Ave, Tempe, AZ 85288. Purchase tickets here.
