- Arts and Ecology
The UK’s Cultural Sector is being encouraged to consider environmental sustainability as being at the heart of what it does. DCMS has recommended to the sector that there are three core elements of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. They have recently published their Sustainable Development Action Plan 2008-11 that highlights proposed actions the sector should take. These include beginning to measure and reduce the carbon footprint of the cultural sector (see DCMS group carbon footprint assessment); and beginning to measure the impact of climate change on the sector’s cultural and sporting assets (see full literature review).
DCMS is also recruiting the cultural sector to help the government instigate behavioural change around sustainability. In the foreward to DCMS’s action plan, Culture Minister Margaret Hodge says:
“If we are to ensure a truly sustainable future, we need to encourage people to change so that they take the long-term consequences of their actions into account. [The cultural sector is already] using their influence to explain the complexities of sustainable development to the public…”
The report highlights the following projects as beginning to achieve awareness raising and instigating change:
Arts & Ecology, which is a new programme from the RSA profiling, supporting and encouraging artists, architects, film-makers and authors in addressing environmental concerns. Michaeala Crimmin, head of Arts at the RSA says:
“The past year has seen an extraordinary and heartening momentum in the cultural
sector addressing sustainability. The challenges of climate change are stark but the
arts bring new energy and insights alongside the facts and figures, the politics and
the science. Pioneering initiatives are maturing – both practical projects focused on
reducing our carbon footprint; and, as with our own Arts & Ecology project, those
that act as a catalyst for the inspiration, insights and brilliance of the cultural
sector as we face the huge environmental challenges of the 21st century and their
human impact.”
Joseph Oliver, Director of Bash Creations is helping with a project for 14-16 year olds working with the Royal Parks and young explorers. The young people used their creativity and media skills to promote the project in an eco-friendly way. Joseph says:
“We need to convey the message that sustainability is not just an economic model
and a political issue, but also a lifestyle choice. To encourage people to adopt a low
carbon way of life we have to make the concept of environmental sustainability
appealing, exciting – and even fun.
I truly believe that the most effective avenues to promote social and behavioural
change are the media, arts, sports and entertainment. If these sectors make a
universal effort to influence the mainstream, this will go a long way towards our
highest goal: leaving a habitable planet behind for our children.”
Over the longer-term climate change will impose significant costs and challenges for the preservation of the country’s historic environment, the design of new buildings and much of the sport and leisure infrastructure, such as public parks and playing fields. Coping with climate change remains an important part of DCMS’s sustainable development plan. Nicholas Serota, Director of the Tate says:
“The challenge of climate change requires bold and imaginative action from the
museum profession. Current standards for gallery environmental conditions assume
the necessity of energy-intensive air conditioning and dehumidification. But we need
to rethink the way we care for our art collections. We need to establish a new dialogue
between professionals and empower them to consider fresh options. More tolerant
guidelines could stimulate imaginative solutions in caring for our collections. This is
particularly important for establishing the requirements for new buildings where the
best opportunity exists for novel solutions.
The time is right for such a debate. I detect a willingness among colleagues to take
responsible long-term decisions. We do so from our current position of strength, and
not belatedly in response to events. I am calling colleagues internationally to join
this debate and to support its outcome. “
You heard the man!