At a recent Slow Touring Session, Climate Change and Sustainability Specialist Tenaya King of Julie's Bicycle shared some tools and approaches that can help artists, managers, and presenters start putting sustainable principles into practice.
Inspired by this workshop, we’re sharing the 7 things presenters and artists can do to help our sector meet the moment and tackle climate change:
Add a “Green” clause to your rider
For: Artists +
Julie's Bicycle – Green Rider Guide
If the environmental impact of your touring is something you are concerned about, including some green clauses in your rider can be a powerful communications tool and encourage change towards a more sustainable touring sector across the venues and events you play at.
This resource contains a wealth of example requests and clauses concerned with audience travel, catering, energy, waste, and production. Give it a read and consider adding some of these clauses to your own rider!
Join CAPACOA’s Climate Change Adaptation Program
For: Everyone
CAPACOA has recently launched their Climate Change Adaptation Program (CCAP) to support the national performing arts sector in responding to the impacts of climate change in an equitable and impactful way. The program is currently in its first stage, in which they are creating an environmental scan to map out the economic effects and vulnerabilities of each bio region, and the methods and tools needed for the assessment of adaptation.
If you work in the performing arts and are impacted by (or trying to impact) climate change, reach out to Project Manager Erin Kennedy to get involved!
Get practical tips for touring sustainably
For: Artists +
The Green Theatre Touring Guide
This Green Theatre Touring guide was created for theatre companies working in Aotearoa/New Zealand, but is definitely applicable beyond that. It includes a step-by-step guide to touring your work in an environmentally mindful way, tips from experienced practitioners, and resources including a materials tracker and a touring data collection sheet.
Travel by train
For: Touring Artists +
VIA Rail – Artists on Board Program
Did you know that VIA Rail's Artists on Board Program offers complimentary or reduced fare travel for approved professional musicians in return for performing on board the Montréal-Halifax and/or Toronto-Vancouver trains?
The program is available to solo performers or duets and is open to Canadian citizens only.
Get inspired by arts organizations already responding to the climate crisis
For: Presenters and Arts Organisations
Culture for Climate
Australia’s Culture for Climate project offers research on the performing arts sector’s response to the climate crisis, and case studies from both small and large organisations across Australia who are passionate about sustainability and creating positive change. In particular, the project looks at how performing arts organizations are adapting to the risks of a volatile climate.
Sign the Declaration or Donate to Music Declares Emergency
For: Music Industry
Music Declares Emergency Canada (MDE Canada) is an independent group, created by artists, music industry professionals and organisations concerned at the lack of a cohesive, industry-wide response to the climate emergency. They believe in the power of music to promote the cultural change needed to create a better future.
You can join 8579 other Organisations, Artists & Individuals who have already signed the declaration. To further support the organisation, you can donate, volunteer your time on one of their campaigns, or start by buying a T-shirt!
Encourage audiences to get to the show sustainably
For: Presenters and Producers
Reverb – Concert Travel Study
Have you ever considered creating an incentive for your audiences to travel to the show by transit, bike, or on foot? Concert travel is live music’s biggest climate challenge – and its greatest opportunity. Incentives could include ticket discounts or other perks. Some venues are even setting up shuttle buses or partnering with local public transit.
Reverb conducted an in-depth survey of 35,000+ concert-goers across more than 400 concerts in over 170 cities throughout North America to better understand the climate impacts and opportunities around fan travel.
Discover how big of an impact audience travel really has. Read the Concert Travel Study →