US arts chiefs go green

Organised by the Wolf Trap Foundation (WTF), Americans for the Arts and the Aspen Institute, the conference brought together 29 executives to lay the groundwork for future action, with their conclusions broadcast to the nation via 'webinars'.

Recommendations resulting from the summit included: creating a National Council on the Arts and Environment; pooling public and philanthropic funds; encouraging arts groups to establish an official environmental agenda; and to build partnerships with existing nonprofits, environmental organisations.

The Virginia-based WTF has taken the initiative in introducing measures to keep its own festival 'carbon neutral'. These include upgrading to a more energy-efficient sound system, switching to biodegradable plates and cutlery at refreshment stands, encouraging the use of local transport and carpooling. According to its own figures, the festival has saved 20 per cent of its costs by cutting down on its electrical usage.

'When we started the green initiative at WTF we did it because it was the right thing to do for Wolf Trap,' said WTF president Terrence Jones. 'But we knew we would want to share whatever we found with our colleagues in the arts,' Both WTF and Afta will move the results and strategies forward on a national level.

'The arts reach into so many places to touch everyone's lives, no matter where they are,' commented Philippe Cousteau, activist and co-founder of EarchEcho. 'It's not that you (the arts) can make a difference, it's that, for better or for worse, everything that you do already makes a difference.'

www.wolftrap.org

This story originally appeared in Muso's sister publication, Gig

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