Carbon Literacy Training
What is Carbon Literacy for the Performing Arts and who should attend this course?
The climate emergency is no longer a future concern, but something that is affecting and changing our lives in the here and now. Carbon Literacy is the underpinning knowledge required to create a vital shift in how we live and work in society in order to mitigate against the worst outcomes of the climate emergency and learn to adapt to the changes already afoot.This course is for anyone who wants to more fully understand the climate emergency, and gain an awareness of the everyday costs and impacts of carbon emissions. Through understanding how emissions are created in the performing arts, we can reduce our footprint and move towards making shows and running venues in a way that does not damage the planet.
What to Expect?
Accreditation - This training has been accredited by the Carbon Literacy Project and as such meets all the criteria for learners to be certified by that body. Certification by the CLP confers a meaningful and robust award which has been rolled out to over 96,000 learners in 26 different nations.
Practicalities - Carbon Literacy Training is a full 7.5 hours of training, which I can offer across one full day, or two half days.I can welcome a maximum of 20 learners in the room on any one day. Please click here for a full logistical rider including pricing and technical requirements. Please get in touch to request a full logistical breakdown, availability and bookings.
Testimonials
“Jennifer’s Carbon Literacy Course is absolutely outstanding. Created for the theatre industry the course, which is accredited by the Carbon Literacy Project, is packed with real world examples that are pertinent to the theatre professional. The course is bespoke and was described by a number of attendees as the best training that they have ever received. The amount of time and effort that has been put into this course is extraordinary, the detail impressive. Jennifer is acting where so many others are just talking, she is an example to us all and I urge everyone to sign up to the course, you will learn a lot and it will change how you make work.”
Gemma Swallow – Technical Director National Theatre Scotland
“I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the training course and feel it should be mandatory for absolutely everyone! Such an insight into climate change and what we can do as individuals and organisations to support such a hugely important issue.”
Ali Coltman, Director of Finance and Administration, National Theatre of Scotland
“Jenn’s face to face training offers contextualised carbon literacy training that is tailored to each institution. With extensive knowledge of the realities of production in both large and small scale professional theatres , and a robust understanding of higher education settings, Jenn is able to deliver engaging and meaningful content to her groups.
We were all inspired, angered and moved at times during the training; and I have definitely seen a marked improvement in general sustainability engagement across staff in the institution since we received the training. I can highly recommend it, and will be actively encouraging others to prioritise this essential C.P.D training for their workforce.”
Katy Downton | Senior Lecturer – Theatre Production | Guildhall School of Acting, University of Surrey
What will we cover?
The current situation
We start the full day’s training by investigating the science behind the climate emergency–what is actually happening to the planet and how do we know it is happening? How does climate change manifest around the world? It’s not always about it getting hotter and understanding the different ways the earth is reacting can help us understand what needs to change.We will bring voices from across the globe into the room through first person reports of living with the effects of climate change.
Getting to the heart of the matter
Then we delve into the root causes of climate change, from our economic and societal structures, how we deliver the power required to keep us moving, patterns of consumption, and government regulations. We investigate how all these causes intersect with our daily lives and how we calculate our impact when creating and producing art. We also look at how artists are responding to the climate emergency and how art can be used to raise awareness in both direct and indirect ways.
How to take action
The second part of the training is about solutions–using the Theatre Green Book to delve into what theatres and other arts organisations are investigating, following our process from the initial artistic impetus of a production, through building and rehearsing the show, to marketing and audience communications, touring, funding, and then what we do with materials once we are finished with them. We also look at the learners’ personal spheres of influence and control within their jobs to consider how they can individually effect change.
Spreading the message considerately
The most important climate action we can take is to talk about it, share the information, keep it in the conversation. We always want to do this with compassion, authenticity and care whether we are communicating with suppliers, colleagues, funders or audiences. Where and how does this conversation start? What are the challenges and potential wins of undertaking these conversations? What can each person in the room do in the form of pledges and actions to reduce our ecological impact and carbon footprint as they relate to the creation of art.
Knowledge and inspiration sharing
Group discussions throughout the day are tailored to the learners in the room, taking into account whether they are from a single organisation or many different ones coming together, and the range of professions present in order to work together whether we are building a flat, serving at the theatre bar, or lighting the stage.
By the end of the course
By the end of the course you will have the underpinning knowledge and understanding of the issues to begin to create real and lasting change in your daily work, and consequently in your organisation. No one company or single artist can solve this crisis but working together we have already proven that our industry can and will continue to make substantial change and improvements.
