Green Light: Programming for Environmental Responsibility
Welcome
Green Light: Programming for Environmental Responsibility was designed to inspire and support people working in the cultural sector to embed environmental themes in their creative work.
At a time of increasing public support for addressing urgent environmental challenges, Green Light championed how arts and culture can be a powerful catalyst for social change.
184 organisations and individuals joined the programme, each at a different point on their environmental journey. Insights and experience were shared through masterclasses, resources, one-on-one support sessions and the attendee network. Thank you to everyone involved.
Here you can find a summary of the programme and more information about the people involved. Access to the recordings and resources can be booked below and you can still book one-to-one support sessions by getting in touch.
Green Light is a collaboration between Invisible Dust, a sector leader in curating climate art-science projects since 2009, and people make it work, who have more than 20 years of supporting the arts and cultural sector to embed transformational change.
Programme
A series of four experience-sharing masterclasses hosted by Alice Sharp, Artistic Director of Invisible Dust, and Richard Watts, CEO of people make it work. Featuring artists, scientists, producers, curators and directors.
The people on the programme also received resources selected by the masterclass speakers and the programme creators, transcripts, audio recordings, video recordings and follow-up written answers to their questions.
Masterclass 1: working between art and science focused on the practical steps for connecting to scientists and working with them on creative environmental projects. With artist Frances Disley, Kew scientist Rebecca Lazarou, director of Fuel Theatre Kate McGrath and Fuel’s associate scientist and Cambridge scientist Magda Osman.
Masterclass 2: engaging audiences in climate action focused on the science of climate change communication and different ways to engage audiences in conversations that lead to action. With science communications expert and Executive Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, Asher Minns.
Masterclass 3: working with international artists and organisations focused on the opportunities and challenges of working internationally and connecting to creative organisations in regions of the world most affected by climate change despite contributing the least to it. With Argentine-born curator and Global South art and culture specialist, Gabriela Salgado and Ghanaian British curator and producer Bianca Manu.
Masterclass 4: collaborating with our local communities focused on collaborating and working with communities on projects that connect local interests and environmental issues to the global context. With artist-duo Philip Duckworth and Ben Sadler from Juneau Projects and designer and artist Ling Tan.
Thanks to Natalie Bracken and Susie Lithman Romeo for providing live captions.
One-to-one support
We see the first Green Light masterclasses as essential. But they are just the first step.
We are also offering a limited number of 1:1 support sessions with expert environmental art and science producers from the Invisible Dust team.
They will explore with you your ideas for creative responses to the climate crisis and discuss your emergent plans. £150 per one-hour support session and follow-up. Register your interest here or get in touch via hello@invisibledust.com.
Recordings and Resources
Everyone who joined the Green Light programme can refresh themselves on the insights shared with the recordings and resources using this link. Please get in touch if you didn’t join first time around and would like to catch up.
Background
Arts Council England’s ‘Let’s Create’ strategy sets out four investment principles that will inform the NPO selection process and acts as a framework for their investment decisions. With Environmental Responsibility as one of four principles, creative organisations have a significant opportunity to develop inspiring creative climate stories and to be leaders of change.
“We are looking to support a move beyond environmental sustainability towards true environmental responsibility. This means embedding environmental thinking in everything you do, from operations and logistics, to considering how creation, programming and partnerships can help support your commitment and provoke debate”
~ Arts Council England’s: Let’s Create Strategy
As arts and cultural practitioners, commissioners, producers, trustees and leaders we have the opportunity of creating compelling narratives, inspiring action, increasing understanding and generating curiosity. This opportunity is the best asset we have to create climate action.
Please note that the Green programme is not about managing our environmental impacts but about how – in the words of ACE’s Senior Manager for Environmental Responsibility Andrew Ellerby – the cultural sector “can hold space, give agency, educate, and engage”. If you’re looking for guidance on how to manage your environmental impacts, check out the resources and work of Julie’s Bicycle, Gallery Climate Coalition and others.
Future programmes
People make it work and Invisible Dust are developing more skills training, organisation development programmes, and services that offer deep support, skills building and practice development that you’ll be able to access at a time that suits you – over the coming months and years. Check out our programmes in development on people make it work’s website or sign up to Invisible Dust’s newsletter.
Get in touch
We would LOVE to hear from you. Please get in touch with any enquiries, questions, suggestions or ideas via hello@invisibledust.com
Introduction video
Click here to view and download the transcript of the welcome video.