Julie's Bicycle - working for a low carbon creative economy

This week saw the launch of new research from the music industry's green development agency Julie's Bicycle, which analyses orchestras and the carbon impacts of touring.  ‘Moving Arts' was supported by the ABO and includes contributions from its member orchestras.  This follows research previously published by Julie's Bicycle into theatres and commercial bands.

It reveals that while orchestras and theatres produce fewer emissions than bands, the sector has not yet been able to systematically embed environmental considerations into touring practices - mainly due to a lack of tools and guidance.

Mark Pemberton, Director of the ABO said:

"Touring in the UK and abroad is a fundamental activity of our orchestras and for the economy - and will continue.  But we have every expectation touring will change in response to the challenges of climate change. There is a new generation of staff, musicians and young people for whom this is a compelling and serious issue and we must be responsive to contemporary concerns.

"We are mindful of the threat of climate change and our member's responsibility as leading arts organisations to do what we can to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. That is why the ABO has committed to encouraging our members to take account of the findings of Julie's Bicycle Moving Arts research into orchestral touring, embrace the recommendations of the Green Orchestras Guide published in February 2010, and sign up to a Sustainable Touring Charter by 2015, a commitment included in A Platform for Success, the ABO's 5 Year Vision for Orchestras."

The report recommends that as a first step, orchestras should:

• Embed environmental sustainability into tour planning
• Create demand for goods with strong environmental credentials
• Scope the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions when planning a tour
• Measure GHG emissions post tour and report them
• Create new touring models - that might involve more performances per tour and assessment of logistics (e.g. performer travel and instrument freighting)

Kathryn McDowell, Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra and Chair of the research steering group, said:

"Environmental impacts are moving rapidly up the list of priorities as government, funders, and, most importantly orchestras and our audiences are waking up to the possible consequences of inaction.  The research in this report enables us to work towards change in orchestral touring practice - with the first step being understanding and measuring the level of greenhouse gas emissions generated by orchestras now."

Alison Tickell, Director of Julie's Bicycle said:

"The contribution from the UK's orchestras to building this piece of very significant research has been outstanding. Touring orchestras have a vital role to play both in the UK and internationally; understanding how we can promote environmental good practice as part of our work will become increasingly important to audiences and artists alike. It has been tremendous to see the commitment and enthusiasm of this sector, led by Kathryn McDowell, to understand and act on promoting low carbon touring."

For more information, interviews with the ABO or a copy of any of the ABO's publications, please contact: Melissa Milner melissa@dhacommunications.co.uk, 020 7793 4035 / 07976 636 228

A copy of Moving Arts is available here