Arts Venues

Creu Cymru partner with Julie’s Bicycle to help fourty two Welsh arts venues go green

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Whether a former miners’ institute, an Edwardian theatre or modern iconic buildings such as the Wales Millennium Centre or Galeri Caernarfon, arts venues occupy an important place in the communities of Wales. Today sees the start of a major, ground-breaking initiative to support forty two arts venues in Wales to become greener and leaner.

The venues are all members of Creu Cymru – the development agency for theatres and arts venues in Wales. They will be asked about the way they manage their use of energy and water, their waste disposal and other environmental issues. Those who choose to will take part in a more detailed investigation with on-going support.

Based on the results of the investigation venues will be given the tools and advice needed to strengthen their environmental, social and economic sustainability. By becoming more energy and resource efficient, managers of the venues will be able to save money. They will be helped to develop new strategies and communicate these to staff, contractors, suppliers and audiences. Overall, this initiative will make them fit for the future and better able to respond to the challenges of a changing world.

The initiative will address three areas;

  • energy and waste (consumption and treatment)
  • the supply chain (theatre production and touring)
  • communicating to audiences the issues and potential solutions (imagining the future)

The initiative is part of Emergence – an on-going programme of work led by Cynnal Cymru-Sustain Wales and Volcano Theatre Company that aims to make sustainable development a core organising principle of the arts in Wales. This Creu Cymru Emergence initiative has been made possible by the Welsh Government’s Support For Sustainable Living grant scheme through a partnership comprising Creu Cymru, Cynnal Cymru-Sustain Wales, the ESRC BRASS Research Centre (Cardiff University) and London-based arts and environmental sustainability experts Julie’s Bicycle.

BRASS and Julie’s Bicycle will provide the technical expertise. Both organisations have a track record of success in investigating and offering solutions for the environmental and social sustainability of the arts. Cynnal Cymru-Sustain Wales will use the information and learning that comes from the work to inform consultation on the development of the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Development Bill.

The Creu Cymru membership consists of Wales’ most cherished theatres and arts venues that have for generations acted as hubs of social and cultural activity. With this initiative, they will be able to continue to do this in the context of a changing world and make an important contribution to the development of a sustainable Wales.

Launch of The Theatres Trust People’s Choice Award 2012

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The Theatres Trust is pleased to announced at the ABTT Theatre Show 2012 that entries are open for The Theatres Trust’s third annual People’s Choice Award.

Entertainment industry manufacturers and suppliers are invited to enter one of their products for the People’s Choice Award. Products need to be making a difference to theatres sustainability, either through design, manufacture or operation.

Selection takes place at PLASA 2012 running from 09 – 12 September at Earls Court, London, where shortlisted products are displayed on The Theatres Trust’s stand and visitors to the show cast their vote for the People’s Choice Award.

Visitors to stands at both the ABTT Theatre Show 2012 and PLASA 2012 can also find information on the Trust’s European Regional Development Fund-backed ‘Ecovenue’sustainability project, which has been improving the sustainability of 48 London performing arts venues.

At PLASA 2012, after three days of visitor voting, the award will be presented to the winner on The Theatres Trust’s stand at a reception at 1700 on Tuesday 11 September. The presentation of the Award will mark the culmination of PLASA’s sustainability series of related Education Programme events that day.

In 2011 those shortlisted included Core Lighting, ETC, Martin Professional, Philips, ROBE and Robert Juliat. Last year PLASA visitors voted Global Design Solutions’ArcSystem the overall winner.  Matt Lloyd, of Global Design Solutions, which also took the 2010 prize, said “The People’s Choice Award is so important as it’s voted for by people in the industry – the people who actually use the equipment. It’s great for public relations, and a morale booster for the company.”

PLASA Chief Executive Officer & Director of Events, Matthew Griffiths, said “The Theatres Trust People’s Choice Award provides a chance for people in the industry to support the commitment shown by manufacturers to issues of sustainability in theatre and live entertainment. An award that is voted for by the theatre community carries real value to the companies dedicated to making a sustainable difference.”

Tim Atkinson, leading on delivery of the Ecovenue project, said “It was a closely fought competition last year. The enthusiasm of the visitors that voted demonstrated that improved product sustainability is high in the mind of users, buyers and manufacturers. I look forward to a competition just as close this year, with entries from a range of companies spanning the entertainment industry.”

Manufacturers or suppliers who wish to enter may pick up an entry form from The Theatres Trust stand at the ABTT Theatre Show 2012, or visit www.theatrestrust.org.uk

Arcola joins the theatre DEC pool

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The Theatres Trust and Julie’s Bicycle have joined together to undertake a comprehensive survey of environmental and sustainability issues facing performing arts venues in the UK.

Arcola is participating in the Theatres Trust Ecovenue project, which is improving the environmental performance of 48 London theatres by providing theatre-specific advice and awards of Display Energy Certificates. The Theatres DEC Pool will compare the performance of participating London venues with national theatre building performance.

The Theatres DEC Pool will cover all theatres throughout the UK and enable venues of similar types to compare approaches and share best practice. Theatres will also be able to see where they can contribute to promoting a more sustainable theatre sector. Analysis of the data will inform the next series of Government DEC benchmarks so they can be relevant to the theatre industry as a whole and will be incorporated into the Trust’s established Theatres Database.

See the Theatres Trust press release for further information: HERE

Go to Arcola Energy

UK Gold Award: “And the winner is…”

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Reprinted from PR Log: “Theatre Honoured with Top Award for Putting Environmental Issues Centre Stage” May 19, 2010

The Arcola Theatre in Hackney, East London has become the first theatre in the UK to achieve a Gold Award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

Founded in 2000 the Arcola, in Arcola Street, London E8, is regarded as one of the leading arts venues in the UK. Now, it has become a leading light in the campaign to reduce London’s carbon emissions by 60 per cent before 2025 by investing in series of innovations and and an ongoing project to educate visitors on sustainability.

“We are trying to become the world’s first carbon neutral theatre.” said Dr Ben Todd, Executive Director with the Arcola Theatre in London.

“We are in a very old dilapidated building so we’ve done lots of work in house. That’s involved changing our suppliers, turning things off and putting in some fairly advanced technology for demonstrations.

“We are in fact the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered theatre and we’ve done some shows where we’ve run purely on hydrogen. Which in itself isn’t directly green but it helps to persuade lighting designers that they need to seriously cut the amount of lighting they use.

“We’ve managed to put on a theatre show here on five kilowatts which is about 70 per cent less than you would normally use,” said Dr Todd.

GTBS members are assessed on 145 separate measures by qualified advisers before being awarded a Bronze, Silver or Gold grading, making it one of the most scrupulous green accreditation schemes in the world.

To achieve a Gold grading from GTBS members have to demonstrate a number of practical measures which have improved energy savings and promoted sustainability.

“The Gold Award for the Arcola is a strong catalyst in greening North East London, including Hackney and surrounding districts,” said Jon Proctor, Technical Director of the GTBS.

“The most progressive areas for the business relate to how they communicate the green message to the community. The theatre hosts monthly green Sundays which are popular and very well designed.

“The Arcola staff have taken a lead on Green tourism in the area having been an excellent advocate of the scheme through presentations and demonstrations and they continue to drive sustainable development through a mix of highly innovative projects such as LED lighting and hydrogen fuel cells as well as simpler products such as a vegetarian restaurant.

“There are still areas for further improvement but the business has tackled all the issues which can be tackled directly and remains an inspiration to the community and the whole industry. As the first theatre in the UK to gain a Gold Award we hope further promotions will follow.”

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