Sadler’s Wells, Lyric Hammersmith and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures link up to make touring greener

Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Ambassador Theatre Group and Sadler’s Wells are among the first arts organisations to take part in a new scheme that aims to help the industry to become greener.

The Accelerator Programme is run by Arts Council England and green arts charity Julie’s Bicycle, and will recruit two cohorts of up to 10 organisations between now and 2022.

The first group includes New Adventures, Norwich Theatre Royal and Sadler’s Wells, which will work together to “develop a blueprint for environmentally sustainable touring”.

The Lyric Hammersmith, Blackpool Grand Theatre, Metta Theatre, Improbable, the Young Vic, ATG and New Adventures will also work together to create a network for “sustainable thinking in the touring sector”.

The Lyric Hammersmith has also been awarded a five-star Creative Green certification from Julie’s Bicycle for 2017/18. The certificate recognises environmental best practice and the Lyric Hammersmith becomes the first theatre with a five-star rating.

ACE executive director of enterprise and innovation Francis Runacres said: “At the Arts Council we are committed to helping arts and cultural organisations embrace environmental sustainability and reduce their carbon footprint. I’m proud of all we have achieved since beginning our work with Julie’s Bicycle, but there is always more to be done.“

He added: “We know that the sector has the ambition, energy and creative thinking to develop more innovative approaches to sustainability, and this programme is designed to help shape those ambitions into concrete plans.”

Organisations that are part of the Accelerator Programme get support from Julie’s Bicycle in the form of mentoring and one-to-one support.