New research suggests cultural audiences in the UK want theatres and other organisations to make changes to help tackle their concerns about the environment.
Indigo’s third annual Act Green survey garnered more than 17,000 responses from visitors and audience members to UK cultural organisations concerning environmental matters. The report also saw more than 100 cultural organisations taking part.
Responses showed high levels of concern about the climate among cultural audiences, with 93% saying they have made changes to their lifestyle to do their bit. The Indigo report found they had high expectations of the cultural organisations they visit to be doing the same. However, only 16% think cultural organisations place great importance on the role they play in the climate emergency.
Act Green found that cultural audiences and visitors are more concerned about the climate emergency than the general public, particularly those aged under 35 and those with children.
Expectations of organisations are high, with 89% of audiences and visitors expecting organisations to be reducing and recycling waste, 68% expecting them to provide information to audiences about how to act more sustainability, and 49% expecting organisations to be joining together to campaign, lobby and influence in this area.
Commitment to sustainability
Indigo chief executive Katy Raines said: “Whilst some comments in this year’s Act Green suggest an increasing polarisation in our audiences, as we have seen in so many areas of society in recent times, overall, there is consistency with previous years’ results.
“Audiences want organisations to be proactively demonstrating a commitment to sustainability, communicating effectively about what they are doing, and informing audiences about how they can help. High proportions of audiences have told us they will support fundraising initiatives which champion sustainability, led by organisations whose values align with their own.
“We have been able to build up this picture by working with the 112 curious and committed cultural organisations who took part this year, sharing the survey with their audiences and visitors. We are also so grateful for the support of our partners Supercool, who have sponsored Act Green for a second year, enabling us to offer it free to organisations in the UK.”
Act Green was sent out in May 2024 by 112 theatres, museums, galleries, cinemas, orchestras and other cultural organisations, including the Royal Opera House, the National Theatre of Scotland, Manchester Museum, The National Gallery and the Philharmonia Orchestra to their attenders, visitors and bookers.
Share this