Creative Change: Sustainability Practice in the Cultural Industries

Wed 05 Oct
1.00 - 4.30pm
stage@leeds
University of Leeds
£FREE

The planet is in crisis, we live in volatile times and change is inevitable. Artists and creatives have always reflected, reported, responded and tried to make sense of the world around them. As we face unprecedented global challenges stage@leeds, The School of Performance and Cultural Industries, Sustainable Arts in Leeds and the University of Leeds The Cultural Institute invite you to join regional arts practitioners, organisations, researchers and our special guests to discuss the realities, challenges and opportunities for creative sustainable practice in a changing world.

The event will be chaired by stage@leeds Artistic Director Steve Ansell and we are excited that our Keynote speakers will be Dr Cat Scott, University Academic Fellow in Biosphere-Climate Interactions and Director of the Leeds Ecosystem, Atmosphere and Forest (LEAF) Centre, Feimatta Conteh, Environmental Sustainability Manager for the Manchester International Festival and a member of the advisory committee for the Theatre Green Book, Helen Brook, project co-ordinator for SAIL (Sustainable Arts In Leeds) and Professor Jonathan Pitches, Head of School, School of Performance and Cultural Industries, University of Leeds.

We will also be joined by DARE prize winning Sculpture and Artist Kate Surridge and composer and Lecturer in Composition and Music Technology (University of Leeds Leeds) Dr Scott McLaughlin who will each provide a provocation to the themes of the day.

Dr Cat Scott (School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds) 

NERC Independent Research Fellow and University Academic Fellow in Biosphere-Climate Interactions. I work in the Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science and am a member of the Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosols research theme. Director of the Leeds Ecosystem, Atmosphere and Forest (LEAF) centre. LEAF aims to bring together anyone working on forests or other vegetation related research from various faculties within University, and make this research more accessible its end-users. LEAF also works with external partners such as charities, local authorities and media organisations on collaborative projects.

Feimatta Conteh  (Sustainability Manager, Manchester International Festival) Leading on development and delivery of a holistic strategy that embeds best practice in environmental sustainability as a core principle for the organisation. Trustee of Artsadmin and Invisible Dust, a facilitator of the GMAST network which brings together the cultural and creative community across Greater Manchester to address the climate and ecological crisis and an advisory committee member for the Theatre Green Book. Feimatta has worked across sustainability, technology development, digital culture and the arts for over 15 years, for organisations including the LSE, Arcola Theatre, Arcola Energy and FutureEverything.

Helen Brook (Project Co-Ordinator Sustainable Arts In Leeds)
Helen is the Project Coordinator for Sustainable Arts in Leeds (SAIL). SAIL is a not-for-profit membership network of organisations, individuals and students from the creative and cultural sector of Leeds, who are working collaboratively to share sustainability best practice and advocate towards a zero carbon / zero waste future for the sector.

Steve Ansell (Artistic Director, stage@leeds, University of Leeds) 
Founder and Creator of Gi60, the international one minute theatre festival. Associate artist at Dean Clough, Halifax. As a director Steve’s work has been performed in the UK, US and in China including the premiere of Dennis Kelly’s DNA at the National Theatre in London. Steve is the co-author of One Minute Theatre: A Practical Guide to Tiny Plays (Routledge 2017. He is committed to creating sustainable theatre and is the leader of the sustainable youth theatre the stage@leedsyoungcompany. When not making theatre he leads acoustic roots band the Good Earth Collective.

This interactive event will provide participants with an opportunity and platform to interact with fellow professionals across the regional cultural sector to develop partnerships, forge relationships and openly discuss sustainable practice.

Refreshments will be provided – PLEASE BRING YOUR ‘KEEP IT’ CUP

Due to the nature of the event places have been limited so if you would like to join us please reserve your ticket now and more detailed information will follow shortly.

Creative Change: Sustainable Practice in the Arts

• 1.00 - 1.25          Arrive, sign in, refreshments
• 1.30 - 1.40          Steve Ansell Introduction from stage@leeds
• 1.40 - 1.50          Dr Cat Scott The Climate Crisis – a  global view
• 2.00 - 2.10         Professor Jonathan Pitches Introduction from the School of Performance and Cultural Industries
• 2.10 – 2.20        Feimatta Conteh - Sustainability in the arts, the UK National picture.
• 2.20 – 2.30        Helen Brook - The local and regional response within the arts community.
• 2.30 – 2.40     Comfort Break
• 2.40 – 3.00       Kate Surridge Provocation 1 
• 3.00 – 3.20       Group discussion.
• 3.20 – 3.40    Dr Scott McLaughlin   Provocation 2. 
• 3.40 – 4.00       Group Discusison
• 4.00 – 4.20       Closing statement and round up.
• 4.30 – 5.00    Networking in the theatre bar