Creating Cultural Capital

Ontario Museum Association 2009 Annual Conference

Panel: Cultural “Greening” in the 21st Century – Institutional Case Study October 22, 2009 – 2:15 – 3:30pm

10 ideas in 10 slides

-- Maria Piacente, Executive Vice-President, Exhibitions, Lord Cultural Resources

10 ideas in 10 slides -- #1

Envision it- seeing green: Commit to it, believe in it & strive for it.Being green = being socially-minded = relevance to institutional missions

California Association of Museums,Green Museums Initiative

Museums Association, UK,Green Museums Initiative

Cultural greening recognizes the important role that cultural institutions can play in promoting ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable ways of living. It is both ideology & practice.

10 ideas in 10 slides -- #2

LEED when you can: Some cultural institutions have the institutional and public support to take on the higher costs of greening facilities. As with alltechnologies, the more mainstream they become, the lower the overall cost.

Grand Rapids Art Museum, USA. Gold LEED certified art museum.

Canadian War Museum,Gold LEED certifiedmuseum.

Region of Waterloo History Museum, Upon completion in 2010, will be LEED (silver) certified.

10 ideas in 10 slides -- #3

Fundraising & Green promo: Integrate ‘green’ into fundraising activities.This makes your ecologically minded initiatives visible & could potentially Attract new donors or allies.

Royal Ontario Museum, C5 restaurantGreen Gastronomy

Gardiner Museum, Annual Gala Dinner & LectureFrom the Ground Up: Nurturing the Art of Sustainable Living

10 ideas in 10 slides -- #4

Strike up strategic alliances: When searching for grants or fundinglook beyond the usual suspects (cultural funders). What science or technology bodies could be potential funders/partners?

Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art solar panel array. Funded by theMassachusetts Technology Collaborative’s Renewable Energy Trust.

10 ideas in 10 slides -- #5

Offer green incentives: Cultural greening is about changing people’s behaviour as much as our professional practices. Encourage visitors topractice sustainable living and purchasing, then reward them.

Museum of Contemporary Art Denver,Green incentives. Toronto Transit Commission,

Metropass Hot Dealzcultural attraction discounts.

10 ideas in 10 slides -- #6

Count on the little things: Redefine progress, focus on process. The little things can have big impacts. Being green means also redefining ‘progress’. Cultural institutions can excel at taking the time to build and nurture our communities.

EcoHouse, HamiltonHeritage building and Environmental Education Centre.

10 ideas in 10 slides -- #7

Be a mobilizer of knowledge: Be a catalyst for advancing greenknowledge. Organize a symposium, community working group, host a conference, research & disseminate!

British Museum, U.K.Going Green: Towards sustainability in conservation

Design Exchange & Ryerson University,Carrot City: Design for Urban Agriculture

10 ideas in 10 slides -- #8

Inspire others/inspire ourselves: Exhibitions are a great way to keepthe momentum going, inspire new directions in the ecological debate,and maintain a critical edge to keep us on our toes.

Barbican Centre, U.K.Going Green: Towards sustainability in conservation Massive Change Touring Exhibition,

Going Green: Towards sustainability in conservation

10 ideas in 10 slides -- #9

Take a shot at social media: If mobilized thoughtfully, social mediacan be a cost effective way to innovate and collaborate with each otherand the public.

Ontario Science Centre,Red Shift Now website & Blog.www.redshiftnow.ca

http://http://greenmuseums.wetpaint.com/ Green Museums Wiki

10 ideas in 10 slides -- #10

Be an advocate: Going green is a real commitment. Cultural institutionsare not neutral, but they are aspirational and can be progressive forcesthat provide real solutions for a sustainable future.

Monterey Bay Aquarium, USA Sustainable Seafood Initiative

Vancouver Aquarium,Ocean Wise Initiative

10.1 -- A few trends & challenges

Trends:

Use of social media to promote greeninitiatives and encourage participation. Esp. blogs. (for outward facing visitor use) and wiki & blogs to share knowledge amongst professionals. (ie- green museum wiki)

Importance of collaboration with other ‘green’ institutions, funding bodies, and businesses.

Green gifts in gift shops.

Challenges:

The challenge of collections care and greening facilities.

The short-term costs of facility refurbishments.

Integrating sustainable practicesinto all aspects of operations (exhibitions & conservation). Aligning green initiatives with institutional mandates.

An all or nothing mentality.

Half-hearted measures.