Statement on environmental sustainability

Our 2022-26 strategy includes a commitment to reduce our environmental impact both now and in the future. We are in the early stages of this journey.

As part of our work we have installed software for measuring real-time energy usage and developed an action plan to reduce our organisational impact. We are improving the sustainability and efficiency of our building and facilities, looking at the sustainability policies and credentials of our suppliers while ensuring the events we run are sustainable, among other actions. We have also developed a carbon strategy with associated targets and measurements for our investment portfolio. Staff members have undertaken carbon literacy training and our Green Taskforce monitors and drives the ongoing implementation and impact of our action plan.

We are also thinking beyond carbon. Building on our flagship project for 2023, The Wild Escape, and as a funder to the sector, we also have a role to play in enabling museums and galleries across the UK to explore biodiversity loss and environmental issues, including brokering new partnerships, such as with WWF, RSPB and National Trust through Save our Wild Isles, and supporting wider UK initiatives such as Great Big Green Week.

We are committed to ensuring the legacy from the Wild Escape continues to inform our grant-giving, advocacy and associated programmes. For example, this year we are working with an Environmental Responsibility Consultant to support Going Places participants to track their carbon emissions, identify opportunities for reductions and develop a sustainable approach to UK touring, alongside establishing and testing a new approach to monitoring the environmental impact of the programme overall.

Art Fund’s approach to gift acceptance is consistent with our commitment to environmental sustainability. As part of our ethical fundraising policy, Art Fund carries out due diligence on funders and partners to ensure that we do not accept gifts from individuals or organisations whose practices, sources of income or stance on sustainability do not support our strategic goals to influence positive change across the sector.

We recognise that there is much work to do and we intend to hold ourselves accountable, updating this statement over time, as we work together with our staff and partners to bring about positive change.