I'm proud of many things this year, but I'm most proud of one: the fact that sustainability, both financial and environmental, has been at the heart of our work.
- Alan Davey, Introduction to the Arts Council's 2011/12 Annual Review

Environmental Sustainability is an issue of global significance. Art and culture have a unique role in helping to shift public understanding and behaviour. Artists inspire change.

We will:

  • support the arts and cultural sector to take practical steps to embed environmental sustainability into their creative and business models.
  • support creative and imaginative responses to climate change
  • support the sector in developing the vision and leadership to innovate for the low-carbon economy of the 21st Century.

We are looking to embed environmental sustainability across our funding programmes, including our Strategic touring fund and Grants for the arts. Environmental Sustainability is a core consideration for our Capital funding programme.

Arts Council England is the first arts funding body in the world to embed environmental sustainability into its major funding programmes. We are asking all National portfolio organisations, (including bridge organisations), and Major partner museums to record their energy and water consumption and to have Environmental Action Plans Policies in place by May 2013.

Partnership with Julie's Bicycle

Our new partnership with Julie's Bicycle will provide practical support to enable organisations to achieve this and develop innovative approaches to environmental sustainability in their creative and business models. The same resources are being made available to those Museum development providers that are not Major partner museums or National portfolio organisations.

Further details of requirements for funded organisations and the support provided by Julie's Bicycle.

Environmental Action Plan

We have an Environmental Action Plan that informs our own practice. Download our 2012 Environmental sustainability report

Alan Davey, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, outlined Arts Council England's sustainability programme at the Tipping Point Conference in Newcastle, 24 February 2011. Download Alan Davey's full speech

Find out more

For further information please contact us at sustainability@artscouncil.org.uk