Last week saw the launch of the MENAT edition of the exhibition design guide, crafted collaboratively by URGE, Art Jameel, and partners, marking a significant milestone in low environmental impact exhibition design guidance for the Middle East. This comprehensive guide builds on the original work URGE developed with The Design Museum, and offers valuable insights and strategies to reduce the environmental footprint of exhibitions in the MENAT region, emphasizing the importance of circular design and operations.

Its release follows the extension of the UAE year of Sustainability, as a result of COP28, and with the aim to involve individuals and communities in the collective effort to adopt environmental consciousness and sustainable practices. Art Jameel has been leading on this charge and with support from the British Council have shown a commitment to fostering conscious approaches within the arts and cultural sectors, promoting sustainability as an integral part of exhibition planning and implementation in the MENAT region. Alexie Sommer URGE lead on the project says;

“having facilitated Art Jameel's Climate and Culture Summit in March 2023 we learnt a huge amount about the innovative work happening across the region led by arts and cultural institutions. The MENAT version of the guide captures this insight and hopes to stimulate the mindset shifts required to respond to the climate crisis on the ground"

There is still time to sign up for the V&A Make Good Symposium 2024 on March 13th – at the V&A you can sign up for the event onsite or online.

This promises to be an afternoon of thought-provoking talks on the untapped potential of waste in design and architecture. With speakers including Christien Meindertsma, Jan Boelen (Atelier LUMA) and Sophie Thomas. The symposium brings together international speakers from a range of disciplines spanning design, agriculture, manufacturing and architecture, to discuss the potential of waste, re-use and circularity in production.

The World Around & Future Observatory present In Focus: Research at The Design Museum in London on Saturday March 16th, 2024.

In person tickets have sold out, but you can join the live stream, sign up here.

Many of us at URGE have enjoyed this conversation with David Johnston, founder of Accept and Proceed interviewing Clare Farrell and Brian Eno about HardArt . Listen here as they discuss their shared commitment to mobilising change in the face of climate emergency. HardArt was launched last month at The Fete of Britain in Manchester.

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