Culture of Sustainability
At the Akademie der Künste, sustainability is an integral part of both the creation and realisation of artistic programmes as well as its working culture.
As an artists’ community, the Akademie der Künste understands that its programmes are integral to its role in providing intellectual stimulus and education on the topic of sustainability. At the same time, the Akademie’s own institutional reality must also be examined. Participation, cultural education and sustainable means of production are issues of central importance to the Akademie der Künste – in its function as an event organiser, in the conception and implementation of its artistic programme and in the involvement of its staff.
The Akademie der Künste collaborates in partnership with the Aktionsnetzwerks Nachhaltigkeit (Sustainability Action Network), a cross-disciplinary hub for the issue of operational ecology in culture and media. It is also working toward attaining an EMAS certification (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme). Developed by the European Union, EMAS is a system of sustainable environmental management that requires companies to set environmental targets and undergo annual internal and external audits.
Sustainability issues are also firmly anchored in the Akademie der Künste’s work culture. The Sustainability Working Group, made up of employees from all of the Akademie’s departments, serves as a forum for developing and initiating steps to improve the institution’s ecological footprint. The working group deals with topics ranging from the sustainable design of exhibitions and events to energy savings in the heating and air conditioning of exhibition spaces and archival depots, temperature reduction in heated areas, the conversion of all lighting to LED technology, environmentally friendly building cleaning and sustainable gastronomy. Other topics addressed include the Akademie der Künste’s institutional public transportation ticket offer, already in place for its employees, as well as the introduction of a “Deutschlandticket Job” option.
The realisation of sustainable concepts is a formidable process that requires building awareness, rethinking existing solutions and taking action. The Akademie der Künste sees this process as an integral part of its institutional, artistic and political work.