Art & sustainability — can they really go hand in hand?
It’s a question that’s been coming up more and more, both in public debates and inside cultural institutions. On the policy side, the European Commission is supporting the green transition through initiatives such as Creative Europe. On the ground, museums are rethinking exhibitions to shrink their carbon footprint — though the average annual footprint of a single museum is still around 500 tons.
Change is happening, but it’s slow. Artists, galleries, museums, and performing arts institutions want to do better. What often stands in the way is not motivation but resources: funding, know-how, and practical tools. In this article, I’d like to take a closer look at what’s already being done, share some inspiring initiatives, and explore how the sector can prepare for a more sustainable future.
The good news? New ideas are popping up everywhere — from eco-prizes to carbon calculators. Let’s dive into a few highlights.
Initiatives and Concrete Tools
1. The Eco-Design Art Prize by Art of Change 21
I’ve been following the Art of Change 21 association on social media for a while, and I really admire their pioneering approach. In 2023, they launched the Eco-Design Art Prize in France to help artists make their ecological transition. Each year, 12 contemporary artists are selected and supported in reducing their environmental impact.
Over three days at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, they get hands-on guidance from sustainability experts — from carbon accounting to eco-design — and mentoring from artists already engaged in the ecological movement.
This prize highlights a real gap in the sector: support structures for artists themselves. I’d love to see this initiative expanded, perhaps even combined with an eco-prize for galleries one day!
2. Sustainability Reports in Museums: Useful or Not?
Reports only matter if they’re put into action. But the first step is always identifying the problem, right?
One of the pioneers here is the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, among the first museums worldwide to measure its carbon footprint, including indirect emissions. Some of their measures include:
- Installing 300 solar panels on the roof
- Switching to 100% renewable electricity
- Reducing packing materials for art transport
- Reusing temporary walls for multiple exhibitions
- Introducing dynamic lighting with natural light and LEDs
I haven’t visited the Guggenheim Bilbao yet, but it’s high on my list — not only for its collection but also for its forward-thinking environmental practices.
If you’d like to go deeper, check out the report titled « Museums in the Climate Crisis » by the Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO). It’s a comprehensive look at where European museums stand and offers concrete recommendations for a sustainable transition.
3. A Free Carbon Calculator Tool
Here’s something practical: the Carbon Calculator by Gallery Climate Coalition (GCC).
It’s a free online tool that helps art organisations measure their greenhouse gas emissions. With metrics tailored to the art world, it breaks down emissions and offers both quick assessments and detailed reports.
According to GCC, the main culprits are:
- Travel
- Shipping
- Building energy use
Secondary sources include materials, accommodation, and even digital infrastructure. For example:
How does your team travel? (plane, train, ferry, taxi…) How are materials sourced, packaged, recycled? What about the energy footprint of digital tools?
GCC not only provides the tool but also a membership option. By completing an annual carbon report and implementing best practices, organisations can actively commit to reducing their impact.
My Personal Experience with Art & Sustainability
During my time as Members & Development Officer at FEDORA – The European Circle of Philanthropists of Opera and Dance – I worked on the initiative Next Stage. Its mission: support innovative projects in opera and dance that set new industry standards. To receive funding, each project had to embrace at least one of three core values — sustainability, inclusion, or digital transformation.
Two grants recipients stood out for me:
- Sustainable Costumes (Oper Leipzig): tackling material sourcing, recycling, and reducing costume production’s carbon footprint. Inspired by textile artist and researcher Urs Dierker, this project has sparked real change in circular costume design. Watch the video here.
- XR Stage (Finnish National Opera and Ballet): using VR technology to create a digital twin of the stage. This allows artists to test sets remotely, cutting down on travel and materials while streamlining production. Watch the video here.
Working on Next Stage showed me how creativity and sustainability can go hand in hand — and how innovation often emerges when we rethink old habits.
Yes, the arts have a long way to go when it comes to sustainability. But the journey has already begun. From eco-prizes and carbon calculators to pioneering museum strategies and experimental opera projects, the sector is showing that it can adapt, evolve, and inspire.
Whether you’re an artist, curator, gallerist, or just curious: change happens through collective action. Do you know of a project in the arts that’s rethinking sustainability? Share it — I’d love to discover more!
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