How can the cultural sector move from environmental ambition towards meaningful collective action?
This participatory workshop explores the potential of collaboration, networks and alliances to strengthen cultural responses to the climate and ecological crisis. Drawing on learning from the Greater Manchester Arts Sustainability Team (GMAST) – a collaborative network of cultural organisations, artists and practitioners – we will consider how cultural organisations, artists and practitioners can work together to achieve more than they might acting alone.
We will briefly locate our conversation within the wider context of climate change and sustainable development, including the work of the IPCC and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, before looking beyond “impact reduction” (e.g. cutting carbon and waste) towards “regenerative thinking” (e.g. restoring ecosystems and community connections) and new ways of working.
Rather than offering a single model or set of answers, the session will draw on the knowledge, experience and interests of participants. Together, we will explore the particular strengths the cultural sector can bring to climate action: creativity, storytelling, imagination, convening, participation and the ability to help communities imagine different futures. We will also look beyond the cultural sector, asking who else we need to work with – from communities, educators and researchers to policymakers, businesses, environmental organisations and other networks – and what we might achieve through these wider alliances.
The workshop will conclude with a practical question: what could we do together? Participants will work towards a simple shared agreement for continued collaboration and collective action beyond the session.
UK speakers’ participation at CU:SU 2026 is supported by the British Council in Hong Kong.
