DanceEast strives to be visible champions of environmental responsibility, using our voice to advocate for responsible environmental practice in the arts industry. We are committed to continuously reviewing our practices and finding ways that we can reduce our carbon footprint. Part of this responsibility includes sharing this knowledge with you, our audiences, participants, and supporters, to let you know what we are doing and how you can also play a part in our journey.
Change starts from within, so our staff have undertaken a programme of Carbon Literacy Training to better understand the landscape and what we can do. As well as this, we have made changes such as introducing a Cycle to Work Scheme, changing to printing on recycled paper in our communication and marketing material, and shifting to personal bottle filling water fountains to remove the use of disposable cups. Knowledge is best shared, and DanceEast engage and contribute to industry specific environmental networks and organisations.
In May 2024, we were awarded a significant capital grant through Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme to modernise the lighting, projection, and equipment in our theatre. Thanks to this grant, we have been able to reduce the theatre working light power consumption, and the amount of lamp replacements across a 6-year cycle by approximately 50%. By upgrading our theatre lighting equipment, we are also able to substantially reduce the amount of disposable colour filters used by approximately 90%.
Outside of the theatre, over the last few years, lighting around the DanceHouse has also been upgraded, including the fitting of proximity sensors in our studios and in areas where uninterrupted lighting is not critical to operation. We have also reduced the amount of decorative lighting in the foyer and initiated a programme of LED lighting improvements.
In 2024 we were awarded the Carbon Charter Bronze Award. For us, the work doesn’t stop there. Looking ahead, we will be taking steps to work towards the Carbon Charter Silver Award. Alongside this, our DanceEats café has initiated a food waste review, and we have initiated a carbon reporting scheme for artists and other users of our facilities to help those engaged manage their own reporting, as well as to open up environmental dialogue with those who are not yet engaged.
Finally, there are things you can do when you visit our building to help us reduce our waste, including giving our plastic cups back when you purchase a drink from our bar or café so we can reuse them, bringing refillable water bottles with you, and bringing your re-useable coffee cups when you purchase a take away coffee from our café. We love that our audiences come from far and wide to experience the joy of dance but, if possible, is there a different way you could travel to us? Perhaps walking or cycling, using the local bus route, or car sharing with your group. If everyone takes small actions, together we can have a big impact.
We look forward to continuing our environmental responsibility journey and finding innovative ways to reduce our impact to our world.
