Going Green in the ArtsCarlin L. Weirick

© 2010Carlin L. Weirick

Going Green in the Arts

• Effect of the economy on arts organizations

• Corporate strategies during this

time

• Arts organizations and their struggle to change with trends

Going Green in the Arts“For one, becoming environmentally friendly is utterly necessary for the future viability of any field or business. I don’t think it’s a question of “if” arts organizations become green. Secondly, the arts have a special affective ability to connect with people emotionally, something that is harder to accomplish in science, so the arts have a unique ability to communicate to people and their hearts in looking for responsibility for sustainable stewardship. These I think get to the heart of it.”

Ian Garrett

Benefits of Going Green

• Lower Expenses/Increase Profit• Attract New Donors/Audiences• Allow Organizations to be Creative• Keep Ahead of the Changing Curve• Human Resource Benefits

Lower Expenses/Increase Profit

• Many simple improvements can immediately affect expenses

• Using CFLs

• Paper reduction

Attract New Donors/Audiences

• Consumers have more demands

• Attract new donors/audiences through marketing green initiatives

Allow Organizations to be Creative

• Arts organizations produce creative pieces so why not apply this creativity to the administrative offices?

• Become a common goal throughout organization

Keep Ahead of Changing Curve

• New cap and trade bill foreshadows future regulations

• Opportunity to be prepared for changes to come

• Become a leader in the community

Human Resource Benefits

• Nonprofits are already plagued with high turnover

• During tough financial times, laying off employees can be seen as easy way to reduce expenses

• Laying off employees is expensive and time consuming

• Harm organization’s culture

Green Handbook

• Little to No Investment

• Intermediate/Large Investments

Little to No Investment

• Paper• CFLs• Recycling• Telecommuting• Sharing Resources• Marketing Initiatives

Intermediate/Large Investments

• Using Green Materials

• Electronic Ticketing

• Building/Theatre Efficiencies

Intermediate/Large Investments

Conclusion

• If the art can evolve, why not the office and workplace?

• Performing arts organizations as representatives of societies and communities

Conclusion“Arts organizations are able to reach the general public more directly, and through more emotional channels than other commercial companies. So, the influence of the arts on the public is great and through example, arts organizations may be able to more effectively encourage wide-spread change than corporations or government. People care deeply about the arts organizations that represent them…As long as those organizations make their green initiatives very public, they can influence whole communities.”

Miranda Wright