Coronavirus: Government urged to put environment at heart of cultural renewal

Actor Mark Rylance is among the supporters of a letter urging the government to put environmental sustainability at the centre of its cultural renewal strategy.

The letter was sent by green arts charity Julie’s Bicycle to culture secretary Oliver Dowden.

It urges the government’s new cultural renewal taskforce to "prioritise a rapid, just and green recovery" for the sector.

Other asks in the letter include setting up a research and development fund for the creative sector to explore new partnerships to create more sustainable ways of working.

Julie’s Bicycle chief executive Alison Tickell said: "Government must do the right thing now and tackle both the climate crisis and systemic racism together.

"A just and green cultural recovery programme offers a once-in-a-generation chance to do this."

Other supporters of the letter include National Youth Theatre chief executive Paul Roseby and Sadler’s Wells chief executive Alistair Spalding.