Venues

Why me and why green?

Venues have a major role to play in the greening of the industry. You are in a position to influence audiences, inspiring them to take positive environmental action whilst visiting your venue and in their everyday lives. The building you run hosts artists, icons and role models, some of whom want to speak out about the environment… their messages will be all the more powerful in a venue serious about greening its operations.

Venues are also influential in purchasing and operational aspects of an artist or theatre company's activities. Practitioners may be committed to ‘go green’ but it’s the industry professionals and venues that host them which influence the key every day decisions on whether the industry will become more environmental.

Why influence these people and industry players? Because it is only by working together that we will achieve the exciting vision of a truly sustainable theatre sector that is robust, has longevity and remains a leading world industry with integrity.

In September 2008, the Mayor of London launched the Green Theatre Plan, packed full of practical advice demonstrating how theatres can reduce their carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2025. Julie’s Bicycle have been involved with the Plan from its early days, and in 2010 we took on the role of coordinating the Green Theatre network and continuing to develop the resources, advice and guidance available to the theatre industry as it addresses the issue of environmental sustainability and prepares for a low carbon economy.

Here are some tools and resources that will make it simple for you to start reducing your environmental impact at little or no cost...