New international initiative to green the theatre sector founded by environmental organizations Julie’s Bicycle (UK) and Broadway Green Alliance (USA)

A new International Green Theatre Alliance (IGTA) has been launched at this year’s LDI show in Orlando, Florida. The IGTA formalizes the growing partnership between Julie’s Bicycle (UK), which works on environmental sustainability across the creative industries in the UK, and the Broadway Green Alliance (USA), which works with the US theatre community and its patrons to adopt environmentally preferable practices.

The Alliance’s first project is a new website www.igtalliance.com which will go live in December 2011 and provide an entry point for international practitioners seeking information and resources on environmentally sustainable best practices in the arts. The website will introduce the extensive sustainability programs of alliance members and direct users to international resources and support networks.

Alliance members will be working together on a range of projects over the coming years. A major aim will be to pool their collective knowledge and experience to help the theatrical industry respond better to the specific challenges it faces in its transition to a low carbon business. This will include sharing and disseminating research; case studies and practical tools; and collaborating on new resources and events. One of the first projects is focusing on sustainable practices in stage lighting.

The founding members hope that the alliance will grow into a worldwide initiative of similar organizations working at a national level to bring about an environmentally sustainable future for the creative industries.

Alison Tickell, Director of Julie’s Bicycle said, “It is fantastic to find like-minded partners committed to the same sustainable vision, and prepared to pick away at the obstacles that make tackling climate change seem so tough. When creative people come together anything is possible, and the energy, creativity and focus of the BGA has been inspiring.”

Sian Alexander, Associate Director, Theatre for Julie’s Bicycle said, “We have enjoyed an increasingly productive and collaborative relationship with our colleagues at the Broadway Green Alliance and this new international alliance is the logical next step for us. We feel that we have much to learn from each other and that through collaboration we can achieve more, faster as we work to improve the environmental sustainability of our industry. In the first instance we hope to provide a useful international resource for practitioners through our website. We expect to see other practical outcomes of our work together over the coming year, and in time we hope that our alliance will grow to include other countries. To this end, we are already in positive conversation with colleagues in Australia and Canada, among others.”

Charles Deull, Co-Chair of the Broadway Green Alliance said, “The BGA is thrilled to launch the IGTA with Julie’s Bicycle, a proven leader in working with arts organizations in making their operations greener.  Bringing together the best sustainability innovations from Broadway, the West End and the theatre communities in the UK and US will enhance our effectiveness and support the many companies and individuals creating a greener theatre.  We look forward to expanding the IGTA to encompass other national organizations focused on a greener theatre community.”

Julie’s Bicycle is helping to make environmental sustainability intrinsic to the business, art and ethics of the music, theatre and creative industries. Established in 2007 by leading figures in the UK music industry, Julie’s Bicycle is a non-profit company working across the arts and creative industries, providing expertise in environmental sustainability to over 350 organisations in the UK and internationally. We offer practical advice, tools, resources and Industry Green environmental certification, informed by world-leading research into the environmental impacts of the creative industries.

www.juliesbicycle.com

The Broadway Green Alliance (BGA) was launched in 2008 as an ad hoc committee of The Broadway League and is a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. The BGA brings together all segments of the theatre community, including producers, theatres in New York and around the country, theatrical unions and their members, and related businesses. Working closely with the Natural Resources Defense Council, the BGA identifies and disseminates better practices for theatre professionals and reaches out to theatre fans throughout the country.

www.broadwaygreen.com

LDI is the largest tradeshow and conference for live design professionals in North & South America. Over 9,000 professionals attend LDI each year for pro-training, to spec gear and to network with colleagues and industry leaders.

http://ldishow.com/LDI11/public/enter.aspx