MAKING THE CASE

The information and resources on this page are intended to help you prepare to make the case for making your organization more sustainable. Modules include: 101 of Climate Change, Theatre & Climate Crisis, Framing the Conversation, The Why, Opportunities, Worksheets (Climate Change in Your Community, Sustainable Policy, Sustainable Action Plan)

This section is a collaboration of the Sustainable Production Toolkit and BGA

Man wearing a dark suit and hat, standing in front of a wall covered in different sized paper and notes. Black and white image by David Cooper.

We can make a difference. 

Artists, playwrights, actors—we can be the spearhead of a movement to reignite and reunite our people’s positive energy for a political and social change that is reflective of our spiritual truths rather than economic fallacies….

What we do now becomes history by which our grandchildren will judge us.

August Wilson, “The Ground on Which I Stand”

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IS RACIAL JUSTICE

Climate change disproportionately affects poor people and communities of color across the globe. 

  • As of 2016, more than 90 percent of air pollution-related deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries.1

  • In the United States, Black Americans have a 54 percent higher health burden compared to the overall population; non-White communities overall have a 28 percent higher health burden; and those living below the poverty line have a 35 percent higher burden.2

  • The biggest polluters in the  US are overwhelmingly located in poor, non-White areas.3
Black and cream photo of Audre Lorde, displaying her quote that reads, "There is no thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives."

First Nations have long been stewards of the land and we acknowledge their leadership in fighting climate change.  

Interconnected Crises

Blue rectangle with white text reading, "A holistic approach to sustainable theatre: Social- Ensure an antiracist, equitable, and inclusive community where all members can contribute, working in a healthy environment for fair and liveable wages and …

Our industry faces severe social and economic impacts of Covid-19. Theatre makers are also engaged in a much-needed reckoning with  systemic racism. Alongside the global pandemic and the legacy of white supremacy looms another destabilizing reality: climate change. 

These three crises are not a coincidence: they are deeply interconnected. Their confluence at this moment demands that we re-examine our “business as usual” and embrace new responsibilities - and opportunities - as we look forward.

This is a guide with concrete tools and best practices for prioritizing  the intertwined needs for greater environmental, social, and economic sustainability in our industry. Our focus here  is on environmental sustainability tools, especially for design and production, but we recognize the need for a broader conversation and invite the creativity and wisdom of our colleagues across the country in re-imagining American Theatre.

CLIMATE CHANGE & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE 101

DOWNLOADABLE PRESENTATIONS:

10-Minute Presentation on the Climate Crisis

10-Minute Presentation on Climate Restoration

INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS FOR FUTURE LEARNING:

Why us: what does theatre have to do with the climate crisis?

Woman in dress leaning forward in front of a dressing room mirror.

As theatre artists, we are uniquely situated to use our skills to lead the conversation around climate solutions and to take action itself:

  • Theatre makers are able to engender empathy, build resilience, and empower audiences and colleagues to act on urgent matters.  

  • Theatre is vast, has an environmental footprint, and has a powerful platform.  According to the Theatre Communications Group 2018 Theatre Facts, the U.S. non-for-profit professional theatre field produced 170,000 performances of 21,000 productions in 2018 alone; for-profit and academic theatres produced thousands more.  

Environmental Impacts of Theatre

A 2016-2017 study done by Barnard College Department of Theatre and Gotham 360 clearly illustrates this in their assessment of the carbon emissions for their production of Some Hero as compared to emissions of an average American home per month. When utilizing “all new” design elements, the carbon emissions equaled that of twelve American homes whereas “all used” materials resulted in one and a half homes.

Chart depicting the carbon emissions of sets, props, and costumes for Some Hero, as compared to emissions of an average American home per month. One and a half houses for "all used," six houses for "as built," and twelve houses for "all new."

The Why: Sustainability in Theatre is…

  • A Culture: Community building rooted in compassion, creativity and curiosity generates deeper collaboration and innovation. 

  • A Core Value: A just and thriving community and environment = planetary health

  • A Lens for Leadership: Finding new and innovative ways to produce diverse programming, engage with the community and model social change through the arts.  

  • Justice and Equity: Smart sustainability measures support racial equity, EDIA, anti-racism, wage parity, public health and safer working conditions.

  • Promoting a Positive Legacy: through environmental stewardship, carbon neutrality, and a regenerative relationship with land, resources and community.

  • An Investment in Well-being: of the staff, artists, community and organization. Re-imagining past practices and productions in a way that is productive and proactive.

FROM VISION TO HABITS

Old habits die hard. Try to build in structural “reminders” using these principles and worksheets to help build new patterns and routines.

  • Create internal accountability: 

    • Set sustainability expectations  in contracts of guest artists

    • Include sustainable goals in employee performance reviews

  • Keep track: 

    • Find measurable ways to track progress and impact, both quantitative and qualitative

  • Go public: 

    • Share your goals, data, and accomplishments in programs and marketing materials

Worksheets:

FRAMING THE CONVERSATION

Three people performing onstage in front of a sign that says, "galvanize."

  • MISSION: Review your organization’s mission statement

  • ALIGN: Align your mission and your Human, Environmental, and Financial sustainability goals

  • IDENTIFY: Identify potential champions or sustainability stewards within your organization

  • INCLUDE: Include many diverse voices in the process of setting priorities and goals, even people who seem peripherally impacted

  • PLAN: Make a clear plan to achieve your goals

Think Big and Start Small

Man with his arms crossed in front of a black background.


Think Big: 

  • Identify a few strategies that will have impact, that touch on your mission, and that address big sources of emissions

  • Work with senior leadership to show clear support from the top

And 

Start Small: 

  • Pilot programs are a low-risk way to test ideas, collect data, generate enthusiasm, and “de-risk” an idea

  • Start with 1-2  projects that are manageable, but connected to the big-picture mission-based ideas you have identified

making the case Authors & process

From September - December 2020, a group of thought-leaders from across the country joined together as part of a Leadership Task Force to develop sustainability modules. This Task Force and the subsequent modules were the result of a collaboration between the Broadway Green Alliance and the Sustainable Production Toolkit (Mike Banta, Lauren Gaston, Sandra Goldmark, and Edward T. Morris).

This document was written by and for the regional, non-profit, and academic theatre community and, as such, provides many recommendations specific to those forms. However, the recommendations are applicable to theatre makers and artists in any location. We suggest readers seek out local, comparable alternatives and reach out to the Broadway Green Alliance for assistance or to share suggestions.

We welcome your feedback, recommendations, and thoughts. Please email questions and suggestions to the BGA.

Task Force Members:

Mike Banta, Sarah Bartlo Chaplin, Devon Berkshire, Molly Braverman, Kimberly Butler-Gilkeson, Zinarta Judea Cruse, Charlie Deull, Krissy Dove, Ian Garrett, Lauren Gaston, Napoleon Gladney, Sandra Goldmark, Branden Huldeen, Katie Liberman, Lauren Mandras, Davis McCallum, Edward T. Morris, Dominic Taylor, Donya Washington, Sarah Williams