D’Art Report 34b - The arts and environmental sustainability: an international overview is now available in French and Spanish bringing the findings to a much wider audience and opening up opportunities for dialogue and action.
The report is the first ever global overview of developments in policy relating to culture and environmental sustainability as well as a snapshot of arts and cultural engagement with the issue. Published by international organisations Julie’s Bicycle and the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA), D’Art Report 34b is based on interviews with arts funding agencies from six continents.
The findings, which have a focus on policy rather than artistic content, show that the vast majority of respondents understood the critical relevance of sustainability today. There is widespread interest in future development in this direction but not a great deal of support. The recommendations focus on what support would be needed from within arts funding agencies to develop a cultural response to climate change.
The work carried out by Julie’s Bicycle and IFACCA between November 2013 and May 2014 is supplemented with desk research, case studies and examples of best practice of how funders and policymakers are supporting and interpreting the interplay of culture and environmental sustainability. It follows D’Art Report 34, released jointly in 2009 by IFACCA and Arts Council England that presented examples of good practice in the arts and sustainability.
’The arts and cultural sector, in the main, has well-articulated values that promote equality, inclusion, diversity and community and strong arguments around social and financial sustainability. It is up to the sector itself to take up this leadership opportunity, developing greater cultural environmental literacy and an evidence base to articulate its contribution and value to sustainable development and the shaping of our future‘, said Alison Tickell, CEO of Julie’s Bicycle. ’We hope that these new translations will lay the foundations for this conversation to take place at the global level where it needs to be. By expanding the reach our belief is that a richer, more relevant and invigorated conversation can take place on this crucial issue both within the arts community and beyond.’
‘The report is particularly pertinent in the context of the current campaign to include culture in the post-2015 sustainable development goals. Championed by IFACCA and five other international networks in consultation with UNESCO, it highlights the potential benefits of giving greater attention to culture’s fundamental role in achieving development outcomes.’ concluded IFACCA’s Executive Director, Sarah Gardner.
The report was financially supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and Arts Council Ireland.
Full report and Executive Summary available at:
IFACCA website: www.ifacca.org/topic/ecological-sustainability/
Julie’s Bicycle website: www.juliesbicycle.com/resources/ifacca-dart-report