Greening the Performing Arts

Rising Water, Black Swan Photo: Robert Frith and Clay Bry

Many performing arts companies and individual artists are doing their bit to ensure that we have a ‘greener’ environment. They see this as essential in creating a better future for all Australia and they believe in leading by example.

Our member companies are finding ways to reduce their paper consumption with subscriber letters replaced by emails and Annual Reports often available on-line rather than mailed out as a glossy brochure.

Sydney Theatre Company

Sydney Theatre Company took out the top award at The 2010 Green Globe Awards winning the Premier's Award for Sustainability Excellence for their "Greening the Wharf" program. STC was also awarded the Community Sustainability Award for the program.

For "Greening the Wharf", STC has received $2 million donation from the family foundation of Dr Zhengrong and Mrs Vivienne Shi towards a photovoltaic array, $1.2 million from the Federal Government’s Green Precincts Program, a significant share of the $1.17 million from the NSW Government’s Public Facilities Program (a combined application with Arts NSW on behalf of all tenants of Pier 4/5 - Bangarra Dance Theatre, Sydney Dance Company etc.). In addition, from 2010 AusGrid became the lead corporate partner and Energy Advisor for Greening The Wharf. 1906 solar panels have now been installed on top of their headquarters at The Wharf on Sydney Harbour and are expected to provide 70% of STC’s power supply. 

The project included a rainwater harvesting, storage and reticulation system which now provides 100% of all companies on the Wharf's non portable water requirements. Over the next 25 years, it is estimated that the Greening The Wharf project will deliver water savings of 37.5 million litres; 5,000 MWh in energy savings and 10,350 MWh of power generated via the PV array. The STC are also undertaking a comprehensive education campaign, with seminars and green events aimed at individuals and corporations. The Wentworth Talks are presented in partnership with the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and are led by guest speakers discussing a new topic each lecture.

They are also working to reduce their carbon footprint in other ways by introducing paperless ticketing, updated programs, green design policies for set designers and energy saving stage-lighting systems. All of the innovations will simultaneously reduce the negative impact on the environment for the STC and its audiences. 

Sydney Symphony Orchestra

The orchestra is making their concert programs available on-line in the week after performances - reducing carbon footprint by limiting the production of glossy booklets.

Malthouse Theatre

The Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne has implemented a number of operational initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. For example they have fitted their security system with Solar charged batteries and have installed a state of the art dimmer system in their Beckett Theatre to reduce heat discharge from the theatre lights, which in turn has reduced the (high energy consuming) air-conditioning requirements of the theatre. In addition 50 cents from each ticket sold to Malthouse Theatre productions has been invested in renewable technologies.

Queensland Theatre Company

In 2008 URS, a global engineering and environmental services firm, and The Queensland Theatre Company joined forces to establish the 'Green Theatre Initiative'. URS and Queensland Theatre Company forged a collaborative partnership focused on improving sustainability practices across both organisations.

Queensland Theatre Company and URS became champions and partners in sustainability, embarking on Queensland’s first 'Green Theatre Initiative' a sustainability collaboration that delivered a carbon neutral production season of Queensland Theatre Company’s The Importance of Being Earnest. This was the first arts sector sponsorship undertaken by URS globally and has been a critical milestone in the development of the company in meeting its community and sustainability key performance indicators. The partnership with Queensland Theatre Company was an opportunity to integrate these initiatives and provide very tangible community benefits.The initiative was well-received across both organisations, resulting in an immediate working partnership founded on genuine enthusiasm and support.

The Australian Ballet

The Australian Ballet is improving their green policies by changing the behind-the-scenes behaviour of staff and dancers. Administrative staff are reducing paper-use by emailing pay slips and press clippings, introducing a new bin system to minimise land fill and installing efficient light bulbs in the car park that last 25,000 instead of only 8,000 hours. The Ballet is finding that it is not only the environment that is reaping the rewards and estimate that the introduction of green policies is saving them approximately $10,000 a year.