The Stage

ACE to include ‘green clauses’ in funding contracts

Published Friday 24 February 2012 at 11:47 by Alistair Smith

Arts Council England is to incorporate eco-friendly clauses into its funding agreements with national portfolio organisations, making it the first arts funding body in the world to have environmental sustainability as a requirement of subsidy.

As a minimum requirement, NPOs will need to measure and improve their water and energy use, with the new clauses embedded into all funding programmes over the next three years.

Speaking at the Tipping Point Conference in Newcastle today, ACE chief executive Davey announced a partnership with arts environmental specialists Julie’s Bicycle.

Davey said: “Our commitment is motivated by both ethical concern and economic imperative. Investing to improve the environmental performance of arts organisations makes hard-headed financial sense. In a single year, Theatre Royal Plymouth saved £10,000 just by changing its water management system; the Sage Gateshead has saved 44% on its electricity per concert by changing light bulbs and air conditioning filters; installing new LED lighting has saved Royal & Derngate Theatre 60% on their utility costs.

“The simplicity of these solutions matches the simplicity of the economics. It’s a message we’ve been bombarded with for years - small changes can make a big difference. And with reduced funding for the arts over the next three years, we can’t afford not to cut these costs.”

The announcement was welcomed by Nick Starr, executive director of the National Theatre, which has been at the forefront of energy-saving practice in the theatre sector, having already worked with Phillips to make lighting around the South Bank venue more efficient.

Starr said: “This endeavour is a crucial step forward and will have a lasting impact on the theatre industry. Environmental sustainability is an issue that unites the commercial and subsidised sectors in recognition of something that affects us all. Better resource management and efficiency will ensure that not only are our organisations more sustainable, but that their subsidy goes further and generates greater value.”