Letter to the Arts Council from Culture Declares Emergency

Dear Arts Council England

Culture Declares Emergency: Response to Draft Strategy 2020-30

Our hearts lifted when we read the 2020-30 draft strategy’s opening statements acknowledging
how much the world has changed – economically, technologically, socially and environmentally
– and that pace of change will only increase. The strategy continues: “Overshadowing all of
this, climate change and environmental degradation look certain to be the pre-eminent forces
shaping our social, political and economic landscape up to 2030 and beyond.”

We welcome this truthful statement and write with the profound question as to why, if this is so,
it does not inform and shape the vision and strategy itself?

If the facts of climate and ecological change overshadow all else, they would surely underpin
and be addressed throughout the entire strategy? The imminent threat to the continuity of life
on this planet, caused by the dominant industrial system, would be the pivot around which all
planning for Culture in the future turns. Instead, there is nothing in the strategy other than the
requirement for funded organisations to reduce their carbon footprint - a policy pioneered
positively by ACE internationally since 2012.

The ‘key issues facing the arts’ do not mention the climate and ecological emergency, despite
the fact that the UK Parliament, that ultimately funds ACE, has declared one. Heatwaves, Arctic
fires and permafrost melting sooner than expected make climate change part of everyday
conversations: a shift is underway in the cultural narrative of change.

Since April 2019, over 600 arts and cultural organisations have declared a Climate and
Ecological Emergency - inspired by the IPPC, Greta Thunberg, Global Youth Strikes, the
Sunrise Movement, David Attenborough, Extinction Rebellion and more. Many of these
organisations are NPOs; many are located in local authorities that have also declared Climate
and Ecological Emergencies.

Looking at the strategy’s three areas of attention: People, Communities and Country, we note
there is no sense these are nested inside each other, nor ultimately nested inside dependence
on a threatened and fragile planet. An inspiring strategy would have four areas: People,
Communities, Country and Planet, starting with the Planet.

To address specific points:

“We want to see communities that are more socially cohesive and economically robust, and in
which residents experience improved physical and mental wellbeing as a result of investment in
culture.” We ask how this is possible without healthy environments in which Earth’s living
systems are protected?
At a local level there is a dynamic opportunity for ACE to partner with and incentivise Local
Authorities, particularly those that have declared emergency, to stimulate discussion and action
and support the development of best practice around systemic change. We urge ACE to
embrace its national role and influence to lead conversations and creative responses to the
planetary emergency - inside and outside the sector.

The investment principle on environmental sustainability can be where the issue finally gets true
recognition - however it is the last thing on the list and comes across as something applied after
the real work has been done rather than being an integral part of how we approach everything
we do – what we make, how we make it and how we share it.

NPOs will be expected to demonstrate three areas of excellence including:

“Dynamism and environmental sustainability – they will be capable of adapting to meet the
opportunities and challenges of a rapidly changing world, and leading the way in addressing
climate change and resource exploitation.”

This suggests more outward facing roles for organisations. However, in the actual detail of the
consultation, this refers narrowly to organisations themselves having a reduced footprint. It
does not suggest organisations can play outward-facing civic roles as leaders on environmental
challenges in their communities.

References to the following are completely missing:

● an emergency response to the planetary crisis

● a recognition of the importance of ecological literacy
● anticipating the threats to the future health and wellbeing of children and people
● acknowledging the systems of oppression and injustice - colonialism, racism and sexism
- that perpetuate the crisis
● Championing the power of arts and culture to reimagine vivid and compelling stories of
how we might live with one another and the planet

In short, the strategy neither addresses the urgency of the climate and ecological emergency
nor grasps the chance to trumpet boldly the pivotal role arts and culture play in bringing about
societal changes needed to avert disaster. Artists and organisations are already proving to be
proactive innovators of systemic change. Resources need to be allocated to support that.
Culture Declares Emergency urges ACE to prioritise the importance it claims to give to the
emergency throughout its new 10-year strategy. Without this, there is a real danger ACE will be
left behind.
Culture Declares Emergency urges ACE to declare a Climate and Ecological Emergency and
offers all heads, hearts and hands in support of such a declaration. There is a bold opportunity
to be grasped.

10 years is the maximum window of opportunity we have to radically turn things around so as to
avoid dangerous and potentially catastrophic and existential levels of climate change. This
radical change will be led by artists and cultural practitioners whether ACE accompanies them
or falls behind.

How great if we could all travel together!

Culture Declares Emergency