Our Environmental Policy

WE BELIEVE THAT ART CAN HELP TO SAVE THE WORLD!

Art can help stop climate change because it is so effective in sending a message. It can help people process information, but most importantly it can be understood by everyone no matter who they are or where they come from. With every art piece, you learn something” – Angélica, Action for Conservation 



Vision

The Golden Thread Gallery is committed, as far as practically is possible, to protect the environment and exemplify sustainable business practices in the course of carrying out our operations and programme of activities. The Gallery is aware of the critical importance of protecting our environment for future generations and ensuring the gallery is resilient in the face of climate change, and we will work alongside our funders and stakeholders to do this. We will communicate our commitment to the environment clearly, and explore how creativity and culture can play a vital role in this. We’ll work collectively with other organisations in the sector whenever possible to improve practices, reduce waste, think long-term sustainability and make our commitment to protecting our planet visible and effective.


Actions

We’ve taken action in the last 12 months including: appointing our Gallery Assistant as environmental champion for the gallery, to lead on making us more sustainable; installing recycling bins in our offices; switching to eco-efficient printing paper; banning the use of glitter in the gallery; demonstrating the re-use and recycling of waste materials to make art in our online workshops for families and children, with an explicit climate action goal; using only compostable cups for visitor tea/coffee; exploring environmental art practices and ideas with themes including ‘Oceans’ and ‘Animals’ in our Junior Gallery output; avoiding single-use plastics wherever possible.

These actions are all part of our commitment to good environmental practice and to protecting our planet.


Commitment

Although we operate within significant budgetary constraints, as a publicly funded organisation, as far as is reasonably practical we will strive to protect the environment by:

  • Complying with environmental legislation.
  • Reducing waste and carbon emissions wherever possible e.g., recycling / reusing materials.
  • Identifying opportunities for protecting and improving the environment.
  • Leading by example to make groups working with the gallery more environmentally aware.
  • As far as possible, managing our programme of activities to reduce negative effects on the environment.
  • Using eco-friendly and sustainable products whenever possible, practical and within budgetary constraints, e.g. compostable coffee cups.
  • Using eco-friendly and sustainable services whenever possible, practical and within budgetary constraints.
  • Being committed to considering the costs and benefits of environmentally friendly alternatives when purchasing items.
  • Making this policy statement available to all staff members, Board members, interns and volunteers at the gallery.
  • Making this policy statement freely available to gallery visitors and any other members of the public who wish to see it.
  • Monitoring and reviewing gallery policies and procedures at regular intervals to ensure that where possible negative impact to the environment is reduced.
  • Encouraging communication on environmental issues and concerns between the gallery, its employees, Board, stakeholders and the community.

This policy was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Golden Thread Gallery on 20 October 2021, and is reviewed regularly.


FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ART FIGHTING THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY!

How Art can help to fight Climate Change

Artists For Climate (where you can find even more of the wonderful posters and images like the ones we’ve shared above, created by artists from all over the world, and free to use for non-commercial purposes under under a Creative Commons license)

6 Pieces of Climate Artivism!

Art helps us feel the urgency of the climate crisis’

7 Environmental Artists Fighting for Change

10 contemporary artists tackling Climate Change

What is Climate Change Art ? Wikipedia


Golden Thread Gallery is supported by: