Museums and Galleries Responding to the Climate and Ecological Crisis
Conference 2022, hosted by NMDC and the Whitworth
Photo by Alan Williams
Following COP26 and the release of NMDC’s report ‘Green Museums: Tackling the Climate Crisis’, NMDC is convened a conference hosted at the Whitworth, University of Manchester, to explore the role of museums and galleries in combatting the climate and ecological crisis.
Museums and galleries have a unique perspective as institutions that take a long-term view with their mission to preserve collections and stories for the future. But how can they do so with the existential threat of the climate crisis? How can museums combat climate change and biodiversity loss? The conference will provide a forum to consider two key questions:
- What can museums do to reduce their environmental impact?
- How can museums inspire positive action?
Watch the livestream of the conference on the Whitworth's YouTube channel:
Monday 7th March
11:30 - Welcome by Maria Balshaw, Director of Tate and Chair of NMDC
11:45 - Keynote: Henry McGhie, Curating Tomorrow: Climate Action is Not Just for COP
12:30 - Panel session: Engaging the Public as Active Citizens
Chair: Jenny Waldman, Art Fund
Panellists: Clare Matterson, Natural History Museum, Nick Merriman, the Horniman Museum and Gardens, Francine Hayfron, the Whitworth
13:45 - Lunch
14:30 - Panel session: Planning to Reach Net Zero
Chair: Sara Kassam, V&A
Panellists: Naomi Garnett, Quaker Tapestry Museum, Craig Bentley, Science and Industry Museum, Simon Branson, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
15:30 - Break out discussion: the Road to Net Zero
16:30 - Afternoon break
16:45 - Keynote: Carly McLachlan, Professor of Climate and Energy Policy, Director of Tyndall Manchester
18:00 - Evening reception
Tuesday 8th March
09:00 - Online contribution: Zehra Ahmed & Jenny Newell, the Australian Museum: Taking Action on Climate Change & Sustainability at the Australian Museum
09:30 - Keynote: Heath Lowndes and Greg Hilty, Gallery Climate Coalition
10:00 - Coffee break
10:20 - Panel session: Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience
Chair: Lisa Ollerhead, Association of Independent Museums
Panellists: Reyahn King, York Museums Trust, Justin McGuirk, the Design Museum, Simon Curtis, Manchester Arts Sustainability Team
11:35 - Breakout discussion: Accelerated Action
12.45 - Lunch
14:00 - Keynote: Richard Piacentini, Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh: Cultivating Climate Leadership: Evolving an Institution to Address Climate Change and Helping Others to Do the Same
14:40 - In conversation: Next Steps in Climate Leadership
Facilitated by Esme Ward, Manchester Museum
Panellists: Hilary Jennings, The Happy Museum, Bridget McKenzie, Climate Museum UK, Ben Twist, Creative Carbon Scotland
15:30 -Afternoon break
15:50 - Plenary discussion
16:15 - Conference ends
The full conference programme, including further details on speakers and the Carbon Literacy Lounge, can be found here.
The event will be livestreamed with links below:
Day 1: https://youtu.be/OR2RV2Cij1g
Day 2: https://youtu.be/uqWqkaHQmmU