“To reach these systemic changes we need, of course, change it in the regulations and policies,
so political changes”
-Hermann Lugan, Where to land
“Where to land”, is an European initiative involving various European institutions, and the actions and discussions take place in the context of the European performing arts sector.
Vidy-Lausanne Theater, located in Lausanne, Switzerland, serves as a case study for sustainability initiatives in a theater with both local and international operations.
The efforts to enhance sustainability within the theater extend to a network called “Stages” involving 12 theaters across Europe.
Credits
Session leader: Héloïse Lesimple, The Shift Project
Speakers: Hermann Lugan, Where to land
Tristan Pannatier, Vidy-Lausanne Theater “Stages”
Article written by Angela Mognol
What are the new initiatives and practices that are being developed around sustainability by European theaters and cultural actors?
Today we met Hermann Lugan, coordinator of the European project “Where to land: embedding European performing arts in the New Climate Regime” and Tristan Pannatier, theater producer of Vidy-Lausanne Theater.
We went into the topic of sustainability and culture, discovering two case studies presented by the lecturers: Hermann Lugan presented the project “Where to land”, an European initiative involving various European institutions, and the actions and discussions take place in the context of the European performing arts sector.
Vidy-Lausanne Theater, located in Lausanne, Switzerland, serves as a case study for sustainability initiatives in a theater with both local and international operations.
The efforts to enhance sustainability within the theater extend to a network called “Stages” involving 12 theaters across Europe. The European project “Where to land“ aims to address the ecological crisis and redefine artistic value, incorporating eco-design, energy efficiency, and environmental responsibility in the performing arts sector.
Where to land project involves a series of discussions and actions:
Ecological awareness: the need to confront the current ecological crisis by rethinking the size of venues and events, utilizing environmentally friendly transportation, and considering their impact on local audiences.
Artistic creation: a focus on redefining artistic value, favoring small-scale, locally rooted, non-replicable projects, and emphasizing eco-design.
Buildings and energy: new cultural buildings are encouraged to prioritize energy efficiency and utilize open-source digital services.
Environmental responsibility: environmental responsibility becomes a fundamental aspect of all job roles starting in 2023.
Degrowth: the discussion includes assessing ecological, social, and cultural impacts and creating open-source tools for environmental diagnosis.
Funding and infrastructure: proposals include funding for climate-related training and eco-responsible mobility, investments in infrastructure improvement, and coordination and subsidies linked to carbon reduction targets.
Management training: mandatory training on climate issues and eco-design is recommended, along with integrating responsible digital criteria into project codes.
“To reach these systemic changes we need of course change it in the regulations and policies, so political changes”
-Hermann Lugan, Where to land
Vidy-Lausanne Theater engages in practical and symbolic sustainability efforts, addressing its carbon footprint, environmental impact, and societal changes related to climate change. They experiment with sustainable practices institutionally and artistically, including a “no travel” rule that encourages collaboration with local teams and artists.
The theater has been the lead partner of a network called “Stages.” This network facilitated sharing sustainability concepts and fostering an experimental spirit not only across various theaters but also within each of the 12 theaters involved in the project. Workshops were developed to stimulate creativity and explore ways to enhance sustainability in their practices.
What is our takeaway?
“We should try to stimulate imagination and think different ways of doing, that would improve also our way of doing in sustainability terms”
-Tristan Pannatier, Vidy-Lausanne Theater
