Funding agreements will require green response

Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations and Major Partner Museums will be required to measure and improve their water and energy use as environmental sustainability is embedded into all of its funding programme over the next three years. To help arts organisations develop innovative approaches to sustainability and provide practical support and expertise, ACE has forged a new partnership with environmental specialists Julie’s Bicycle.

In a speech at the Tipping Point Conference in Newcastle, ACE Chief Executive, Alan Davey, said: ““Investing to improve the environmental performance of arts organisations makes hard-headed financial sense. In a single year, Theatre Royal Plymouth saved £10,000 just by changing its water management system; the Sage Gateshead has saved 44% on its electricity per concert by changing light bulbs and air conditioning filters; installing new LED lighting has saved Royal & Derngate Theatre 60 per cent on their utility costs… with reduced funding for the arts over the next three years, we can’t afford not to cut these costs.” Environmental sustainability is already embedded in ACE’s Capital Programme, which focuses on improving the sustainability of arts businesses – partly through improving the environmental performance of buildings. ACE has also been examining its own environmental impact and produced an Environmental Sustainability Report which reveals a 31% reduction in its electricity, gas and water bills since 2008/09, equivalent to a 40% reduction in CO² emissions.