Past Event
The event spaces are fully accessible. Day 1 takes place in the Great Hall, with catering and cloakroom on the lower basement level. Day 2 takes place entirely in the Upper Hall.
There will be a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter on Day 1. Should you require an interpreter for the workshops on Day 2 please contact info@whitechapelgallery.org.
Live captioning will be available for the talks on Day 1.
A visual scribe service will be in place on both days of the conference.
More information about access on site at the Venue is available here: https://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/visit/access-info-and-facilities.
Please contact info@whitechapelgallery.org if you would like to discuss a particular request.
Transport
– The nearest underground and train station is Liverpool Street (2 min walk) (Elizabeth, Central, Circle, Hammersmith and City, and Metropolitan lines; London Overground; TFL and national rail services). The station has step-free access
– For more transport information visit: https://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/visit
Bishopsgate Institute | 2 & 3 March 2023
Featuring voices from leading visual arts and environmental organisations as well as change-makers from beyond the sector, this two-day symposium tackles the critical environmental issues facing the UK’s public arts institutions.
Through a day of panel discussions and presentations, followed by a day of action-focused workshops, this event will provide context and clarity by pooling expertise and data to identify solutions, equipping participants with the knowledge and ambition to take effective action.
Following the event, participants will receive access to new resources expanding on the topics explored in the symposium, including a customisable Decarbonisation Action Plan for non-profit arts organisations.
Organised by Whitechapel Gallery and Gallery Climate Coalition.
Please note, in-person tickets for Day 1 have now sold out. Live-stream tickets are still available.
Doors open at 9.00 am for refreshments
Event starts at 10.00 am
The event is hosted by broadcaster and journalist, Louisa Buck
10.15am
Opening Statement by Areeba Hamid, Co-Executive Director of Greenpeace UK
10.30 am
Climate (out of) Control: Environmental Impacts of HVAC Systems & Climate Control Regulations
Amanda Gray, Partner, Mishcon de Reya
Caitlin Southwick, Director Ki Culture, Founder ICCC conference
Christian Baars, Co-Chair ICOM UK Executive Committee, National Museums Liverpool, Collections Care BSc, MSc, PhD
Kate Parsons, Director of Collections Care and Access, V&A South Kensington
Sarah Munro, Director, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
Panel discussion addressing the issues of climate control systems in storage facilities and exhibition spaces. The session brings together the key voices required to bring about meaningful change in climate control, from HVAC Regulations to loan agreements, proposing new systems and standards.
11.45 am
Environmentally Responsible Exhibition Design
Justin McGuirk, Chief Curator, Design Museum; Director, Future Observatory
A presentation on lower impact exhibition making as a driver for change at an institutional level
12.10 pm
Holes in the Net: What Does ‘Net Zero’ Really Mean for a Non-profit Art Organisation?
Danny Chivers, GCC Environmental Policy Advisor, Independent Journalist & Climate Consultant
Keynote presentation on the reality of Net Zero Targets for non-profit organisations
1-2pm
Lunch
2pm
Local Crisis & Local Action: Climate Justice and the Role of Public Art Institutions
Imani Jacqueline Brown, artist, activist, and researcher
Lucy Wood, Associate Creative Producer, Invisible Dust
Farhana Yamin, environmental lawyer, author and activist; coordinator, Climate Justice & Just Transition Donor CollaborativeLouis Brown, artist, member of collective East London Cable
Nick Merriman, Director of Horniman Museum, NMDC chair for Environment and Sustainability
Screening of the short film Death by Pollution by black & brown films, followed by a panel discussion on the localised impacts of the climate crisis, air pollution, environmental racism & climate justice, and the role of arts institutions and creatives in addressing these issues and engaging local communities.
3.45pm
Climate Activism in Art Spaces
Alison Tickell, Founder & CEO, Julie’s Bicycle
Bidisha Mamata, broadcaster and journalist
Chris Garrard, Co-director of Culture Unstained
Emma Brown, Just Stop Oil spokesperson
Panel discussion on the urgent need for climate action and the spectrum of approaches activists take.
4.45pm
Culture, Climate & Societal Change
Frances Morris, Director, Tate Modern
Kate Raworth, economist, author, co-founder of Doughnut Economics Action Lab
Louisa Buck, broadcaster and journalist
Kate Raworth and Frances Morris address the implications of doughnut economics on culture, exploring how we move away from a growth model towards a regenerative, distributive and thriving sector for all.
5.30pm
Performance by Love Ssega, musician, performing artist and songwriter
5.50pm
Closing words by Gilane Tawadros, Director, Whitechapel Gallery
During the breaks, there will be opportunities to view a pop-up display of historical materials from Bishopsgate Institute’s special collections selected by Dr Michelle Johansen (Interpretation Manager at the Institute). This selection of pamphlets, journals, and campaigning ephemera will cover topics such as recycling, conservation, and air quality in twentieth-century Britain. To discover more about the Institute’s collections, go to bishopsgate.org.uk/archives.
Doors open at 9.30 am for refreshments
Event starts at 10.00 am
Workshops will take place in four sessions over the course of the day. Each participant will attend a total of four workshops, one per session. Participants will be asked to submit their selection prior to the event.
For more information or to register your interest in Day 2, please email rebeccagremmo@whitechapelgallery.org.
Presentations by:
Amahra Spence, artist and organiser working for liberation
Danny Chivers, GCC Environmental Policy Advisor, Independent Journalist & Climate Consultant
Workshops:
Adapting Conservation and Collection Management Practices
Caitlin Southwick, Director Ki Culture, Founder ICCC conference
Following on the Day 1 HVAC panel, a deeper dive into regulations, building action points for organisations to implement best practices.
Programming and Advocacy for Environmental Responsibility
Alice Sharp, Director, Invisible Dust
To inspire and support people working in the cultural sector to embed environmental themes in their creative work.
Reducing Impacts of Art Shipping
Hannah Wright, Gallery Climate Coalition shipping lead
Discussion on the impacts of different freight, packaging materials and insurance policies, and the effects on programming scheduling – exploring the greatest issues, obstacles and possible solutions.
Climate Justice & Decarbonisation
Harpreet Kaur Paul, journalist, researcher and author of Towards Reparative Climate Justice: from Crises to Liberations
Exploring action points for organisations based on their insights, specific obstacles and questions, ranging from supply chain impacts to programming to engaging audiences in local climate action.
How to Plan and Design Exhibitions with a Lower Environmental Impact
Elise Foster Vander Elst, Head of Exhibitions and Environmental Impact Lead, the Design Museum, London
Understanding the environmental impact of exhibition-making and exploring a lower impact approach to the planning, design and operation of exhibitions.
Building Management for Climate Conscious Cultural Institutions
Paddy Dillon and Lisa Burger, co-founders, the Green Book
Guidance and practical steps to support the shift towards more sustainable building management, operations and capital projects.
Alice Sharp, Director, Invisible Dust
Alison Tickell, Founder & CEO, Julie’s Bicycle
Amahra Spence, artist and organiser working for liberation
Areeba Hamid, Co-Executive Director of Greenpeace UK
Bidisha Mamata, broadcaster and journalist
Caitlin Southwick, Director Ki Culture, Founder ICCC conference
Chris Garrard, Co-director of Culture Unstained
Christian Baars, Co-Chair ICOM UK Executive Committee, National Museums Liverpool, Collections Care BSc, MSc, PhD
Danny Chivers, GCC Environmental Policy Advisor, Independent Journalist & Climate Consultant
Elise Foster Vander Elst, Head of Exhibitions, the Design Museum, London
Emma Brown, Just Stop Oil spokesperson
Frances Morris, Director, Tate Modern
Gilane Tawadros, Director, Whitechapel Gallery
Hannah Wright, Gallery Climate Coalition shipping lead
Harpreet Kaur Paul, journalist, researcher and author of Towards Reparative Climate Justice: from Crises to Liberations
Justin McGuirk, Chief Curator, Design Museum; Director, Future Observatory
Kate Raworth, economist, author, co-founder of Doughnut Economics Action Lab
Louisa Buck, broadcaster and journalist
Love Ssega, musician, performing artist and songwriter
Nick Merriman, Director of Horniman Museum, NMDC chair for Environment and Sustainability
Paddy Dillon and Lisa Burger, co-founders, the Green Book
Sarah Munro, Director, Baltic Gateshead
Farhana Yamin, environmental lawyer, author and activist; coordinator, Climate Justice & Just Transition Donor Collaborative [chair]
Imani Jacqueline Brown, artist, activist, and researcher
Kate Parsons, Director of Collections Care and Access, V&A South Kensington
Louis Brown, artist, member of collective East London Cable
Lucy Wood, Associate Creative Producer, Invisible Dust
Gallery Climate Coalition (GCC) is an international charity and membership organisation providing environmental sustainability guidelines for the art sector.
The coalition’s primary target is to facilitate a reduction of the visual art sector’s greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 50% by 2030 (in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global warming to below 1.5°C) as well as promoting zero-waste practices.
GCC has over 800 members in 20 countries around the world, including artists, museums, non-profits, art sector businesses and commercial galleries. Membership is free and open to all.
Day 1: £25 – £65
Day 1 (online only): £15
Day 1 + Day 2: £40 – £120
For any ticketing enquiries, please contact rebeccagremmo@whitechapelgallery.org
Thursday 2 March | 6-10pm
Join us at Whitechapel Gallery for an after-hours programme that follows the day’s discussions at the symposium. Have a drink at the bar, enjoy DJs, poetry, film, a talk and a workshop, exploring art, ecology and sustainability.
