People in the cultural and creative sector are willing to adopt more sustainable practices, but often lack the conditions needed to put them into practice, according to the findings of the workshops in Cyprus, Greece and Malta in the framework of the European CoRES project, coordinated by AKTI.
According to a press release issued by AKTI, the European project CoRES – Creativity, Resilience, Environment, Sustainability: A Cultural Paradigm for a more resilient Art world which is implemented by AKTI (Cyprus), RUNONART (Greece) and Studio 18 (Malta), explores the gaps, needs and barriers to the green transition of the cultural and creative sector and works with people in the sector to co-design solutions for a more sustainable and resilient future.
‘From climate fatigue and bureaucracy to artists’ financial insecurity and gender inequalities, 177 people from the Cultural and Creative Sector and the environmental sector in Cyprus, Malta and Greece are identifying what needs to change to make the arts sector more sustainable and resilient through the European CoRES project, coordinated by AKTI’, it said.
The 177 participants included representatives from the Cultural and Creative Sector and the environmental sector, as well as young creative practitioners aged 18-30, it adds, took part in participatory activities held in Amargeti, Paphos (Cyprus), Valletta (Malta) and Athens (Greece). Discussions focused on the sustainability and green transition of the cultural and creative sector, climate mainstreaming and gender mainstreaming within the sector.
According to the press release, one of the clearest findings from the workshops is that people in the sector are willing to adopt more sustainable practices, but often lack the conditions needed to put them into practice. Across the workshops, practical barriers included limited funding, bureaucracy, inadequate infrastructure, limited access to sustainable materials and resources, a lack of available public spaces and a shortage of environmentally friendly alternatives, it adds.
Proposed solutions included experiential learning, knowledge exchange, community engagement, creative expression, stronger collaboration and a more supportive institutional framework.
When asked what comes to mind when they hear the term ‘climate change’, participants mentioned panic, fear, sadness and guilt, but also responsibility, hope and the need to act. Young creative practitioners described climate change as both a challenge and a call to action, while also associating it with fatigue and helplessness, it said.
It also said that discussions on gender mainstreaming identified gaps and needs across seven areas: education, gender stereotypes in the media, recognition of women’s historical contributions, women’s representation in decision-making positions, meaningful participation in democratic processes, recognition of women’s achievements, and financial support for the creative sector.
‘More broadly, participants called for greater recognition of women’s achievements, more visible and credible female role models, less gender bias and stereotyping in the media, and better access to funding’, it said.
The findings from the six activities will feed into the development of the DeCyDe-4-Arts Policy Tool, a solution-oriented policy tool aimed at strengthening climate resilience, social inclusion and representation in the cultural and creative sector. The tool will be disseminated to more than 20 relevant stakeholders following the completion of the project.
It is noted that CoRES – Creativity, Resilience, Environment, Sustainability: A Cultural Paradigm for a more resilient Art world is co-funded by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) under the Culture strand of Creative Europe 2021-2027, and by the Deputy Ministry of Culture of Cyprus.