A new e-book published by the Boekman Foundation, a leading Dutch institute for arts, culture and related policy, explores how the creative sector is helping to achieve sustainability in seven European countries, and Creative Carbon Scotland (CCS) contributed the chapter for Scotland.

Towards sustainable arts: European best practices and policies offers inspiring examples for artists, cultural organisations and climate change policy makers and scientists who want to harness the power of arts and culture to achieve mitigation and adaptation in the face of the climate emergency.

The Boekman Foundation points out that the book addresses the clear and disquieting message that emerged in 2021 as forest fires, drought and floods raged: that time is running out and the future is now. In seven chapters, experts from the Czech Republic, Finland, Flanders, Germany, the Netherlands, Scotland and Spain investigate how cultural organisations in their country are becoming more sustainable, how artists are engaging with the climate crisis, and which role culture has in the general transition towards a greener society.

The Foundation, which collects and disseminates knowledge and information about the arts and culture in both policy and practice, notes that each chapter contains many inspiring initiatives unique to each country. But, it notes, there are also striking similarities. In most countries sustainability is lacking in national cultural policy, and culture is missing in climate policy. Another significant observation is the importance of collaboration and of networks, which have achieved great results in the countries included in the publication. In fact, the focus of CCS, whose chapter was co-authored by Director Dr Ben Twist and Communications Manager Katherine Denney, is fostering such collaboration and networks.

Twist said,

“We were delighted to contribute to this excellent book and share the three main strands of our work: making the cultural sector more sustainable, creative solutions for the climate crisis, and changing the structures within which cultures works. COP26 being held in Glasgow in November 2021 concentrated the minds of Scottish policymakers on the connections and synergies between arts and culture and achieving a sustainable, adapted Scotland. For example, the Scottish Government Culture Division now has a net zero officer. Towards sustainable arts: European best practices and policies provides strong arguments and case studies that support an ever-closer alignment between culture and climate policy.”

Read Towards sustainable arts: European best practices and policies

The post New publication showcases the role of arts and culture in the transition to a sustainable future appeared first on Creative Carbon Scotland.

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Creative Carbon Scotland is a partnership of arts organisations working to put culture at the heart of a sustainable Scotland. We believe cultural and creative organisations have a significant influencing power to help shape a sustainable Scotland for the 21st century.

In 2011 we worked with partners Festivals Edinburgh, the Federation of Scottish Threatre and Scottish Contemporary Art Network to support over thirty arts organisations to operate more sustainably.

We are now building on these achievements and working with over 70 cultural organisations across Scotland in various key areas including carbon management, behavioural change and advocacy for sustainable practice in the arts.

Our work with cultural organisations is the first step towards a wider change. Cultural organisations can influence public behaviour and attitudes about climate change through:

Changing their own behaviour;
Communicating with their audiences;
Engaging the public’s emotions, values and ideas.

Go to Creative Carbon Scotland

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