Photo: Dale Boyd

A non-profit is bringing together art, music and improv comedy to raise awareness of climate change in the South Okanagan.

A two-night event, The Power of Song and Play, brought the talents of local musicians Tavis Weir and Maiya Robbie, local improv troupe Peach Gravy and Vancouver improv duo Hip.Bang! in the name of climate change awareness.

The event, which concludes Sunday with a 7 p.m. show featuring Hip.Bang! at the Shatford Centre featured art from Pen Hi students around the subject of climate change, and an afternoon improv workshop with Hip.Bang!

The Vancouver improv duo consists of Tom Hill and Devin Mackenzie. Mackenzie grew up in Naramata and was part of the Pen Hi improv club during the beginning of his comedy career.

The issue of climate change is near and dear to his heart.

“It’s hard to think of a more pressing issue in the world today than what’s happening to the Earth right now, so if myself and Tom are able to apply our art skill to a conversation there’s not question we’re going to do that,” Mackenzie said. “It means a lot to me, having grown up here and going on hikes every single day,  it means everything to me.”

Mackenzie hopes to work in the future with First Things First Okanagan, the non-profit who put the shows together.

Board chair for First Things First, Jim Beattie, hopes bringing together comedy, music and art will help bring climate change to the forefront of peoples minds in a less topic-heavy, more engaging way.

“We feel that through art, there’s a different way of touching people,” Beattie said. “The knowledge may not be full, there’s an emotional response. That’s what art can do.”

“It can reach people. Tonight we’re doing improv and that’s another way of engaging in the conversation,” Beattie said. “We’re hoping that those who come here and those who watch tonight will see that even though the issue is complicated, as individuals, despite our different points of view we need to find a way through this.”

First Things First is hosting more events this year including an upcoming solar and electric vehicle show at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, and an exhibition at the art gallery in this spring.

Tickets for tonight’s improv performance featuring Peach Gravy and Hip.Bang! are available at Dragon’s Den, the Book Shop on Main Street and at the Shatford Centre.

For more information visit www.firstthingsfirstokanagan.com.