The performing arts and theater are a way for people to express themselves while connecting with the community, a captivating opportunity for personal expression and societal connection. The performing arts represent diverse artistic forms in front of an audience, on stage and the arts and cultural industries contributed over $1 trillion to the US economy in 2022.
However, before the show, organizations should consider the sustainability of events. Venues can be sustainable, aiding events to adhere to best practices while allowing your event to be environmentally friendly. Concerns for the planet and the climate crisis worry 87 percent of artistic audiences.
Effectively tackling environmental responsibility involves not only focusing on energy and carbon emissions but also addressing other factors at performing art venues. In the realm of the arts, considerations such as hazardous materials, recycling and repurposing efforts, indoor air quality, transportation, and artistic content are some issues considered. Regarding cultural organizations, 77 percent of audiences believe these organizations should influence societal change in response to the climate emergency.
The opposite of risk is reward. It’s imperative to promote brand perception, and what follows is trust. An organization’s commitment to social impact can immensely influence an event, including the performing arts. Sustainability isn't just about energy. It’s also about waste, venue energy consumption, water reduction, travel, food waste, and more. And there are many benefits to having sustainable events.
Benefits of sustainable events
• Fosters a holistic approach to sustainability, considering economic, environmental, and social impacts.
• Strengthens organizational reputation and brand value.
• Achieves best practice levels of efficiency and performance.
• Defines roles and responsibilities for staff, contractors, and suppliers.
• Cuts costs through better energy and waste management.
Sustainability is not a trend; it’s an important obligation that the entertainment industry should support. The United Nations 2030 agenda allows companies support to meet goals for sustainability, promoting positive change globally. It’s a plan of action for people, the planet, and prosperity. Having the proper framework can allow your events to become sustainable.
An Event Sustainability Management System (ISO 20121:2024) is the standard for sustainability in the events management industry. This standard has been developed for the events industry to help put sustainability first when managing and delivering events. It takes into account the geography, culture, and social demographics of performing arts events, allowing organizations to take a long-term view and identify all potential impacts early on.
Regardless of the size of your business or any potential budget or time constraints, you can still deliver exceptional theater events with a strong sustainability focus. Let’s shape your organization’s future together.
Follow along for the next blog in the series, "The future is now: Creating our sustainable planet together".
