On 9 June, URGE hosted its first URGE-X panel session. We set up URGE-X as a space to bring together leaders in organisations who are working toward paradigm-shifting change. URGE-X is a forum for ideas, support and knowledge-sharing, hosting events and debate to drive meaningful progress toward tackling the Climate Crisis. 

For our first session, we wanted to explore the role of museums in the Climate Crisis, following on our own work with the Design Museum on its Waste Age show. Sustainability consultant Sara Kassam, Design Museum Chef Curator Justin McGuirk and V&A Dundee Director of Programme Sophie McKinlay joined URGE’s Alexie Sommer and Sophie Thomas to discuss both the operation and practical steps museums can take as well as the wider role of the sector as a catalyst in engaging the public and hosting debate and policy initiatives.

We’ll be posting a more detailed review of the session soon but, in the meantime, we are sharing some of the resources recommended by our panel and attendees.

Sara Kassam recommended this V&A Blog post from Head of Design Evonne Mackenzie summarising efforts to develop a more sustainable approach to design internally within Design at the V&A: https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/design-and-society/net-zero-design-circular-systems

She also recommended the Museums for Climate Action downloadable book Reimagining Museums for Climate Action, which can be downloaded at: https://www.museumsforclimateaction.org/mobilise/book

Sophie Thomas has been working with a group at the recent BIO27 Biennial of Design Ljubljana bio27.si to produce a Guide to Sustainable Cultural Production (including further resource links). Download it at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A1Qi9veEst87Z0nO_5nk3KYpr5ShpmtV/view

Par of our debate concerned Carbon Calculators and their use in the museum context. Sara Kassam recommended the Gallery Climate Coalition available here: https://galleryclimatecoalition.org/carbon-calculator/

While Lorraine Finch, a co-founder and the Chair of the Institute of Conservation’s, Environmental Sustainability Network and an associate of Climate Museum UK, recommended the STiCH (Sustainability Tools in Cultural Heritage): https://stich.culturalheritage.org/carbon-calculator/#browse

And Kathy Hopkin of Julie's Bicycle, recommended its case study of the Santa Monica Arts Center in Barcelona setting up a carbon budget for an exhibition: https://juliesbicycle.com/resource/arts-centre-closes-to-save-energy/

More tools from Julie's Bicycle can be found at: https://juliesbicycle.com/our-work/creative-green/creative-green-tools/

And here is the Julie's Bicycle report for Arts Council on carbon footprint of the arts sector: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/sites/default/files/download-file/ACE%20JB%20annual%20report%202019-20.pdf

Justin McGuirk introduced us to Future Observatory, new national
programme for design research supporting the UK’s response to the climate crisis, coordinated by the Design Museum in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council, which he is leading: https://futureobservatory.org/

More resources:

Green Museums: Tackling the Climate Crisis report from the National Museum Directors’ Council: https://www.nationalmuseums.org.uk/media/documents/nmdc_green_museums_tackling_the_climate_crisis_2021.pdf

CiMAM Toolkit on Environmental Sustainability in the Museum Practice: https://cimam.org/sustainability-and-ecology-museum-practice/cimams-toolkit-on-environmental-sustainability/

WasteAge: Design Museum article on the URGE sustainability audit: https://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/waste-age-what-can-design-do/working-to-make-change-in-waste-age

Join our URGE-X group here where we will be posting news of our next event

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