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Arts Council England will include environmental sustainability criteria in its funding in what is believed to be a world-first for an arts funder.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The council\u2019s chief executive Alan Davey is due to make the announcement at a conference in Newcastle. The new approach will require the funder\u2019s national portfolio organisations and major partner museums to, at least, monitor and reduce their consumption of energy and water.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Davey will say that economic as well as environmental concerns have informed the decision. ??\u2019Investing to improve the environmental performance of arts organisations makes hard-headed financial sense,\u2019 he is due to say.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018In a single year, Theatre Royal Plymouth saved \u00a310,000 just by changing its water management system; the Sage Gateshead has saved 44 per cent 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 cost.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The announcement of this new approach comes as the Arts Council also unveils a new partnership with Julie\u2019s Bicycle, an organisation which works to improve environmental sustainability within arts organisations, which will work with the council-funded organisations to improve their environmental record. ??Alison Tickell, chief executive of Julie\u2019s Bicycle, said: \u2018Arts Council England has shown visionary thinking, well ahead of all other cultural policies internationally, by making the environment a critical consideration for arts practice and business.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Civil Society News: LINK<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Arts Council England will include environmental sustainability criteria in its funding in what is believed to be a world-first for an arts funder. The council\u2019s chief executive Alan Davey is due to make the announcement at a … Continue reading