MAC celebrates becoming Active Member of Gallery Climate Coalition encouraging tangible climate action in the visual arts

GCC celebrates “Active Members”, an initiative to encourage tangible climate action in the visual arts

Today, Gallery Climate Coalition (GCC) announces the first wave of its members who have achieved “Active” status. GCC launched plans for the Active Member designation in  October 2022, to coincide with its two-year anniversary. The initiative is intended to celebrate the organisations and individuals who have taken effective steps towards environmental responsibility as well as incentivising those who are yet to honour the coalition commitments. 

The launch of this initiative marks an evolution in GCC’s strategy from awareness raising and community building to one focusing on near-term tangible progress, starting with three key actions:

1. Completing a CO2e report or audit.

2. Establishing and maintaining a Green Team.

3. Publishing an Environmental Responsibility Statement.

In the first cohort of Active Membership almost 10% of GCC’s 800-strong member base have demonstrated that their organisation has implemented environmental sustainability best practice in line with these areas. GCC congratulates all members that have accomplished this but particularly acknowledges the significance of the work done by the many small organisations, artists and individual professionals that have made transformational changes in implementing these effective actions.

As part of the initiative, GCC has provided qualifying members with a badge to recognise and celebrate the action that they have taken. The badge is for use across member websites, social media and email footers etc. They are year-stamped and members will have to re-submit annually if they would like to retain the latest Active designation. This badge acknowledges positive action taken but is not a certification of sustainability.

Active Members will also benefit from discounts with carefully considered collaborators, including: The Art Newspaper, Rokbox, SpongyBags and Kvatt, who offer products and services in line with principles of sustainability and/or help members fulfil their environmental responsibility commitments.

Active Members include: