Vegan theatre to open in Kent

11 Mar 2024

A theatre that will only allow vegan food to be consumed on site is to open in Canterbury.

Kent Online reports that the performing arts building of a former Steiner school in the city has been transformed into the Garlinge Theatre which will welcome the public to its first production next month.

The school closed suddenly last year after Ofsted inspectors highlighted a range of failings.

Anything eaten or consumed in the 300-capacity venue must be vegan, a rule that applies to anyone renting the site, organisers have said.

“We need to reduce cruelty and industrial agriculture," Terry Thompson, a member of the collective running the venue said.

“What we should be moving towards is an organic and non-cruel system that would free up land for food production.

“I felt the entertainment industry, especially in a theatre, was not offering enough of that and getting on people’s radar.

“We are not going to have it on every production promotion, but it will be underlying so people can ask questions.”

Six theatres share £510,000 of eco-project funds

Storyhouse, Chester
06 Mar 2024

Funds to improve environmental sustainability have been awarded as part of the Theatre Improvement Scheme.

Key NPOs cut carbon emissions by 40%

14 Feb 2024

A group of 30 Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) responsible for producing around a third of the portfolio's total carbon output have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by two-fifths since 2018, a new report commissioned by ACE has revealed.

The Culture, Climate and Environmental Responsibility annual report 2022-23 utilises data provided by 2018-23 NPOs covering a variety of environmental impact areas such as touring, business travel, electricity and gas use, and waste, focusing on the completed environmental reporting of 656 organisations - 79% of the current portfolio.

The report, produced by the culture and environmental charity Julie's Bicycle, includes data from 30 'Spotlight' organisations chosen because they have been identified as being responsible for around 30% of the carbon emissions created by NPOs.

Among this group – which includes the Royal Shakespeare Company, Baltic Contemporary Art Centre and the National Theatre – the findings reveal that over the five years, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been reduced overall by 40%.

This cohort also reduced gas use by 32% and electricity by 19%. However, some of the reduction in GHG emissions is due to the decarbonisation of the National Grid.

For example, the report states that in 2022/23, the actual reduction in carbon emissions associated with improved/reduced electricity usage is 13%.

Overall, the report found that NPOs have reduced their energy use by 20% over the last five years.

Examining insights provided by 562 NPOs in 2023 as part of the Beyond Carbon survey, the report found that 94% of NPOs now feature environmental sustainability in their core business strategies, compared to 78% in 2018.

Nearly three-quarters said they have either programmed or produced work that explores environmental themes. This figure was just 48% in 2018.

The upward trend is continued in several other areas, with 66% of the NPOs formally recognising environmental responsibilities in job roles - up from 44% -  and 81% having taken steps to eliminate single-use plastic compared with 64%.

While action to be more sustainable is often perceived as costly, 52% of the respondents reported financial benefits from their actions, and 55% reported creative and artistic opportunities.

In her introduction to the report, Alison Tickell, Founder and CEO of Julie’s Bicycle, called for decarbonising in the arts to become "business-as-usual", adding that "pathways to decarbonisation and regeneration are central to cultural purpose and relevance".

Museum proposes using mine water for clean energy 

14 Feb 2024

The National Coal Mining Museum has proposed using geothermal heat to help it decarbonise.

The museum pumps an average of 1.5m gallons of water out of Hope Pit daily, which could be used as an alternative energy source. The scheme, which would cost an estimated £2m, could also heat nearby homes,    

Mine Director Shaun McLoughlin told the BBC: "Here at the National Coal Mining Museum, we've realised the potential of the heat from mine water, so we are currently in consultation with Kirklees and Wakefield Council to harness this potential.

"There is enough energy at this mine to provide the heat to heat the houses in Overton, Newhall Prison and decarbonise the whole museum."

McLoughlin added that a scheme could also offer a "great visitor experience for people to see the science and technology at work".

Activists target Science Museum over fossil fuel sponsorship

Protesters sitting in on a panel debate organised by the Science Museum
06 Feb 2024

A group of climate activists including Greta Thunberg protested the museum’s ongoing sponsorship deal with several fossil fuel corporations at a public panel debate.

Can fungi boost festival sustainability?

Crowds around a stage at Glastonbury Festival
24 Jan 2024

An Arts Council England-backed project has been exploring whether mycelium, a material made from the root network of fungi, can be used to construct sustainable temporary structures at festivals.

Activists urge architects to boycott British Museum redesign

22 Jan 2024

Environmental campaigners are calling on architects not to take part in a contest to redesign around a third of the British Museum following a controversial £50m sponsorship deal with BP that will fund the redevelopment.

The boycott is backed by the Architects Declare network, the Section of Architectural Workers trade union, now part of Unite, and Future Architects Front (FAF).

A spokesperson for FAF told the Architects Journal: "We fully support calls for architects to reject commissions funded with oil money.

"In the context of cascading ecological collapse, it is completely indefensible for architects to knowingly work with the most blatant perpetrators of climate destruction. Such donations by oil companies are transparent acts of reputation washing, and any architect with the slightest pretence of social concern must refuse to become complicit."
 

Natural heritage sites to share £15.6m of funding

A group of walkers gathered on a hill in the Peak District
16 Jan 2024

National Lottery Heritage Fund will introduce a landscape and nature-focused initiative later this year as part of its 10-year strategy.

Consultation on future of Leeds museum launches

10 Jan 2024

Leeds City Council has launched a public consultation on proposals to end its lease on the site of a local heritage museum.

The Thwaite Watermill Museum, which is owned by Canal and River Trust and managed by Leeds Museums and Galleries, told the Yorkshire Evening Post it faces closure if the lease is terminated, as it cannot afford to take over the running of the building.

A consultation, which concludes on 19 January, asks users when they last visited the museum as well as their thoughts on the future of the site and if they think it should be handed back to Canal and River Trust.

Leeds City Council, which is one of dozens of local authorities across the country making severe budget cuts, said that the museum, located on an island in the River Aire, was costly to maintain. 

A council spokesperson said: “Leeds City Council have operated Thwaite Watermill as a heritage attraction since 1990. Although visitor satisfaction is high, the site has always had low visitor figures, with 9,502 having visited Thwaite Watermill in 2022.

“There are high maintenance costs linked to managing historic buildings of this nature, coupled with challenging environmental issues with the site prone to flooding. Finding the funds to maintain Thwaite Watermill has and will continue to be a challenge.”

In December 2023, Leeds Council put forward a raft of cost-cutting measures designed to save £58.4m over the next 12 months, alongside £7.4m of previously agreed savings.
 

Theatre Green Book joins forces with national theatres

19 Dec 2023

The Theatre Green Book has announced a partnership with the UK’s three national theatres.

Together, the coalition will form an association to drive change and push for net zero across the sector.

Part of the work includes the formation of a steering group featuring the national theatres, the Association of British Theatre Technicians, the Society of London Theatre, UK Theatre and the Theatres Trust. 

The steering group is involved in work on the second edition of the Theatre Green Book, scheduled for release next summer.

The first edition, which was published during the pandemic, is now used by all large subsidised theatres, the UK’s three national theatre and all UK opera houses.

Paddy Dillon, one of the Theatre Green Book’s authors, told The Stage the second edition is “our chance to accelerate theatre’s momentum even further”.

Lisa Burger, who co-authored the book, added: “We’re excited that the Theatre Green Book is now permanently rooted in Britain’s theatre community. 

“Alongside the dramatic progress of sustainable working with the Green Book across the world, theatre is making real progress towards net zero.”

British Museum signs controversial £50m deal with oil giants BP

BP petrol station sign
19 Dec 2023

New 10-year partnership with BP will support transformation described by museum as 'one of the most significant cultural redevelopment projects ever undertaken'.

Review of indemnity scheme for loaning items underway

Woman looks at items in an exhibition
29 Nov 2023

Review of government scheme may see humidity, temperature and light arrangements for storing cultural items on loan agreed on a case-by-case basis. 

National Trust urges climate action over heritage threat

20 Nov 2023

The National Trust has called on government to take action dealing with the risk that rising temperatures and extreme weather pose to the nation’s heritage sites.

In a report published on Monday (20 November) the National Trust called climate change "the single biggest threat" facing the historic homes, land and coastline in its custodianship.

Entitled A climate for change, the report’s findings suggest 70% of its heritage assets will be at “medium or high risk” of climate hazards by 2060.

The conservation charity has proposed introducing a Climate Resilience Act that sets targets to prepare for the risk posed by climate change, saying the issue demanded “urgent and unswerving attention”.

It also wants to see a statutory duty on all public bodies and more funding from government for landowners, heritage organisations and tourism groups to help them adapt and protect their buildings, coastlines and countryside.

Patrick Begg, the outdoors and natural resources director at the National Trust, said: “We’re at a point where we need to raise a flag. We’re living the change. There are some serious, serious impacts happening.”

A government spokesperson told the BBC it had a five-year national adaptation programme to increase the country's resilience to climate change risks, including those posed to heritage sites, coastline and countryside, and is committed to investing billions of pounds in broader climate change adaptation measures.

Activists warn of ethical ‘loopholes’ in cultural corporate sponsorship 

National Portrait Gallery, London, June 2023
15 Nov 2023

National Portrait Gallery and Sadler's Wells have both faced criticism over the organisational links of some of their corporate sponsors.

Climate protesters target Science Museum Director 

Protesters from XR North East holding placards that say 'Science Museum funded by fossil fuels'
09 Nov 2023

Science Museum Director Sir Ian Blatchford was met by protestors as he attended the Museums Association annual conference.

Calls for 'vigilance' after Just Stop Oil targets National Gallery

Protestors attacking a painting at the National Gallery
06 Nov 2023

Protestors from the Just Stop Oil campaign group have attacked the Rokeby Venus painting at the National Gallery.

Just Stop Oil protest cost Les Mis £80k

06 Nov 2023

Five Just Stop Oil protesters have been warned that they could have to cover the costs of a cancelled performance of Les Miserables in October after they took to the stage and locked themselves to the set during the musical’s first act.

The disruption led to the theatre being evacuated and the cancellation of the performance. 

District Judge Michael Snow told the defendants the cost to the theatre of cancelling the show was around £80,000 and that they could be liable to pay the total amount if found guilty.

Appearing in Westminster Magistrates' Court, the protesters pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated trespass.

The trial will start at City of London Magistrates' Court on 5 February.

Museums agree joint action on climate change

06 Nov 2023

Museums across the country have made a joint commitment to take collective action on the climate crisis at the UK’s first-ever Museum Cop.

Attendees at a conference held at Tate Modern last week included delegates from museums and organisations from Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton, Derby, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Sheffield and York, as well as national bodies from England, Wales and Scotland.

In a statement, museum leaders acknowledged a “responsibility to speak out about the climate and biodiversity crisis” as “institutions with a long-term view.”

It said museum leaders feel they have an "ethical obligation" to take action to alleviate the damage of climate change and are committed to using collections, programmes and exhibitions “to engage audiences with the climate crisis and inspire them to take positive action”. 

The agreement also included pledges to manage collections sustainably while developing and implementing decarbonisation plans and increasing biodiversity in museums’ green spaces.

As well as urging UK politicians and businesses to accelerate action on climate change, the conference made a series of recommendations, including changes to planning laws to improve the long-term viability of heritage buildings and for environmental best practices to be taught on sector-related courses and apprenticeships.

Nick Merriman, Chief Executive of the Horniman Museum and Chair of the Cop, said: “The fact that the whole museum sector has come together to stress the urgency for action is hugely significant. We will now work together to implement the actions we have agreed.”

Travel assistant helps audiences choose sustainable options

30 Oct 2023

An ongoing pilot project using travel assistant technology to encourage audiences to travel to cultural venues more sustainably has shared its initial findings.

Five cultural venues - Chichester Festival Theatre, The Point & The Berry in Eastleigh, Farnham Maltings, The Old Fire Station Oxford and The Electric in Guildford – are taking part in the Act Green travel pilot, which is being run by consultancy and research agency Indigo-Ltd in partnership with You. Smart. Thing (YST) and crowdEngage.

The venues have received Arts Council England funding to see if a combination of technology and messaging can influence audience behaviour.

YST operates travel assistant technology that allows audience members to see the carbon impact of their travel options. It has paired with crowdEngage, which enables venues to send communications to encourage audiences to use the travel assistant service, to create an integration between the two systems.

Since the pilot began in July, audiences across the five venues have created more than 4,000 sustainable travel plans.

Indigo-Ltd says the initial results show visitors are opting for low-carbon travel methods of public transport rather than driving to venues.

When compared with their usual travel behaviour those who used the route suggested by the travel assistant service reduced their carbon emissions by 41%, together saving an estimated eight tonnes of carbon over the last three months.

The pilot will continue to run until May next year, with results being published in the spring alongside a toolkit for other cultural organisations.

YST CEO Chris Thompson said: “We are delighted to see adoption of our technology across the cultural sector, and in particular, by theatre going audiences”.

“Behaviour change and model shift can be hugely difficult to achieve. It is brilliant to see these theatres offering tailored routes and low-carbon travel options that ultimately enhance the overall cultural experience they deliver.”

Theatres call for £56.7m energy fund from next government

LED lights on a truss
26 Oct 2023

It's estimated that measures funded by a proposed support package to adopt energy saving measures would save UK theatres as much as £6.2m a year.

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