Now in its thirteenth year, the city’s most prestigious awards ceremony recognises organisations and individuals across a range of sectors that have dedicated themselves to Melbourne.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle congratulated the individuals and organisations shortlisted. “People and organisations are the real heart and soul of cities and, as the most liveable city in the world for five consecutive years, we have some really impressive ones right here in Melbourne,†the Lord Mayor said.
“This year’s Melbourne Awards finalists are all exemplary: their achievements, passion and dedication deserve this recognition.â€
CLIMARTE has been nominated for the ART+CLIMATE =CHANGE 2015 festival as a Contribution to Environmental Sustainability by a Community Organisation.
Anyone can volunteer to be a College Green Captain just as anyone from a Broadway production can. Â We have nearly 50 Green Captains on Broadway; at every production and at many theatrical unions. Folks volunteer to be a Green Captain because they care about the environment and about helping us spread the word that its easy being green-er. Many of the greener changes are also money-saving and increase efficiency. If you are wondering how to make a greener change at your theater department reach out to us as we would be happy to let you know how we do things greener on Broadway. Write green@broadway.org.
We currently have a BGA Green Captain at every Broadway show!
College Green Captain Prize will again be offered for 2016
The Broadway Green Alliance (BGA) is happy to announce that we will once again be offering a College Green Captain prize for an outstanding College Green Captain.  The award will be presented at USITT in March in Utah and the deadline to apply will be March 1st, 2016. The winner will receive tickets to a Broadway (or touring) show and a meeting with a Broadway Green Captain. For details on how to apply please go here.
Greening College Campuses
One man’s trash is…well, you know how it goes!
by Maddie Price
Gettysburg College ‘15
Green Design Intern, Summer ‘15
Never underestimate the power of publicity! College Green Captains, what’s the good of all the great plans you have for greening your school’s theatre if no one knows about them? Spreading the word about your theatre department’s sustainability initiatives, both internally and externally, will help you promote a culture of sustainability with greater participation in eco-friendly practices within the college theatre and across campus!
First, to ensure success of your college theatre going green, you need to get your colleagues on board! Talk to your peers–ask for their input for how to best green your theatre program during your day-to-day activities, whether in the green room or behind the scenes of a show. Talk to faculty about promoting eco-friendly habits, both in the context of theatre classes and rehearsing shows; be sure to talk to staff in all areas of production, from the costume shop to the light booth. Ask the administrative office about creating signage and email blasts with reminders about sustainability policies.
Furthermore, consider sharing the news about your green college theatre to the greater campus community, especially if there are initiatives that audience members should be aware of (such as recycling or bringing reusable water bottles) when they come to see your shows! Are there any cool set pieces/costumes/props made from salvaged materials? Snap a photo and share it on social media! (see below for our tags). Does your campus have a student-run newspaper or radio station? Can you make announcements through student government? Even when making Facebook events for upcoming productions, post reminders about how to go green in your theatre building. Furthermore, if your school has made environmental sustainability a greater priority among higher administration, such as through an Office of Campus Sustainability or a faculty Sustainability Board, see how you can contribute your input. They would probably love to hear about students bringing sustainability to the performing arts–think how it can be pitched as a unique, inspiring story to stakeholders that may even make it into college publications! While many schools today have signed onto the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, many have yet to discover that making strides in environmental sustainability can be found in theatre arts!
Action
Follow the BGA on social media to keep up with news, tips and the latest green happenings on Broadway. Click on the icons at the bottom of this e-mail to do so.
Top Five Tips for Greener Dorm-Living by Barnard College CGC Samantha Jakuboski
You don’t have to give up a life of luxury or be a tree-hugger to go green in your dorm (although there is nothing wrong with embracing the occasional tree now and then.) Here are some of my favorite ways to “greenify†my dorm living:
Bring a lot of underwear to college. This way, you won’t have to do as many loads of laundry and you can save both water and energy– not to mention time, because, really, who has time to do laundry in college?! And if you are doing laundry wash in cold water with a small amount of earth friendly detergent.Â
Plastic water bottles are so last century. Embrace the reusable water bottle. As a college student, proudly sport your bottle around campus. CAUTION: People will envy you and your super cool bottle.
Who says that saving the environment means living without a mini-fridge and giving up those midnight ice cream cravings? Energy Star appliances are your friends. Buy them. See a full list here.
Natural is the new black. So ladies, put down those energy-consuming curling irons, flat irons, and blow dryers and embrace those luscious waves and curls. (OK, so maybe this tip is a bit tree-huggerish, but I still think natural is sexy!) If you’re not up to natural hair then at least write BGA for a t-shirt (made of recycled plastic!) and wear that to show you care about green instead.
Make use of power strips. I like to plug my strings of lights into one powerstrip and all my chargers in another. This way, when I want to shut all the lights off and when I want to decrease my use of vampire power when I am not using my chargers, all I have to do it turn off one switch.
SPECIAL OFFER:  GET A 20% DISCOUNT on “A Practical Guide to Greener Theater” by BGA Education Committee members Ellen Jones with Jessica Pribble and Paul Brunner. Use code FLR40. Go to http://ellenejones.com/ for more info. Â
Assistant/Associate Professor of Wood and Sustainability Arts, School of Art Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University The School of Art in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University seeks an exceptional artist in the area of Wood and Sustainability Arts for a full-time tenure-track appointment at the assistant or associate professor level beginning fall 2016.
Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines, serves more than 80,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation’s fifth
largest city. champions intellectual and cultural diversity, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.
The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, the largest comprehensive design and arts school in the nation, is a vibrant example of the of the New American University philosophy. With 4,700 students, more than 400 faculty and faculty associates, 135 degrees and a tradition of top-ranked programs, the Herberger Institute is built on a combination of disciplines unlike any other program in the nation. The institute includes the School of Art, The School of Arts, Media + Engineering, The Design School, The School of Film, Dance and Theatre, The School of Music, and the Art Museum. Through recognizing that design and the arts are critical resources for transforming society and solving complex problems, the Herberger Institute is committed to positioning artists, scholars, designers, and educators at the center of public life.
Located in one of the most expansive metropolitan centers in the United States, and situated in the Sonoran desert, the school supports a broad range of art practice and inquiry. Programs within the School of Art lead to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art with concentrations in art history, art studies, museum studies; an online BA in art history; Bachelor of Fine Arts () in Art with concentrations in art education and a broad number of mediums; Master of Arts (MA) in Art with concentrations in art history or art education; and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Art. In addition, the school participates in the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs in Design, Environment and the Arts housed within the Herberger Institute. With several nationally ranked programs and one of the largest comprehensive art programs in a public research university in the United States, the School of Art plays a prominent role within the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts and is located on both the Tempe and downtown Phoenix campuses.
This position will strengthen the broader vision of the School of Art in connecting the well-established materials based practices in a contemporary and vibrant manner. A hallmark of ’s wood arts program respects craft and design traditions while embracing alternative materials/methods that cross boundaries with other art and research disciplines. The successful candidate will have an expertise in a broad range of sculptural and design processes specific to working with wood, and will demonstrate the potential to develop research and programmatic offerings related to “sustainability.” Artists may define their relationship to sustainability practices in many ways including but not limited to “ecological art” or “environmental art”. The School of Art seeks candidates capable of joining with others to expand the vision of sustainability research; building bridges with other disciplines in the school, the Herberger Institute, the university and/or the community.
The successful candidate is expected to pursue a research agenda related to their expertise in wood and sustainability arts and actively participate in the and degree programs in the School of Art and degree programs in the School of Sustainability. The successful applicant will demonstrate excellence in teaching with the ability to formulate and instruct a variety of course offerings on both undergraduate and graduate levels, including studio and seminar courses, and mentoring graduate student thesis projects. Additional responsibilities include studio maintenance, budgeting,
oversight of safe studio practices, and service to the sculpture and sustainability programs in the form of committee participation, curriculum development, and student advising is expected. An interest in contributing to ’s highly regarding online degree programs is a plus.
Required Qualifications: Master of Fine Arts degree or equivalent terminal degree; strong evidence of professional activity in the field. University/college teaching experience beyond the TA level. Evidence of research or demonstrated potential to achieve national/international recognition in creative research and/or scholarship related to wood and sustainability arts.
Desired Qualifications: Demonstrated ability to teach all levels of wood arts, including but not limited to fabrication, joinery, carving, and lathe turning. Knowledge of and proficiency with digital production techniques related to wood such as laser cutting/engraving and milling.
Instructions to Apply: Please submit a letter of interest addressing creative research, teaching and work experience. Include curriculum vitae, the names and contact information of three references, two course syllabi and evidence of creative work in the form of twenty images (.jpg format, 1200 max. pixel width), with a separate image list. Ten separate images of student work are encouraged. Applicants advancing to the second round of review will be asked to provide additional materials.
Applications by e-mail are preferred; submit all materials to: Theresa.McDowell-Blanken@asu.edu
Applications sent via mail must be addressed to:
Chair, School of Art Search Committee, Wood/Sustainability
c/o Theresa McDowell-Blanken, Specialist to the Director, School of Art
PO Box 871505
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287-1505
Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you would like your materials returned.
Application Deadline: Screening of candidates will begin immediately; however, for best consideration, application materials should arrive by the deadline, December 1, 2015. If not filled, reviews will occur weekly thereafter until the search is closed. For information on the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, please visit our website: herbergerinstitute.asu.edu.
Climate change is not a purely political issue; nor is it limited to the COP21 conference in Paris. It is above all a human issue, one that connects us all, everywhere in the world.
At ikonoTV — the only broadcaster in the world to showcase art and only art 24/7 — we believe that art can give a new and powerful voice to the pressing concerns of global warming and man-made natural disaster, and that we can use art’s emotional appeal intelligently to convey the urgency of these issues in a deeper, more immediate way.
Our proposal is to invite artists to join forces and to put together a 24-hour playlist of contemporary video works based on environmental themes, free of any additional commentary. Because these concerns affect us all, and because art’s language is universal, artists are probably best equipped to enlighten and to touch us. This is why we present these issues from an artist’s point of view — to implement art’s power to speak out on this serious matter and appeal directly to human feeling.
“Art Speaks Out†will be a global event, broadcast exclusively on ikonoTV. It will run uninterruptedly from:
6 p.m. on Saturday, December 5
to 6 p.m. on Sunday, December 6 (CET).
ikonoTV’s global reach includes satellite transmission, SmartTV applications with access to over 200 million households worldwide;
a 24/7 stream for all online and mobile devices;
and over 135,000 Amazon downloads in only five months, making us the number one app in our category in the US, the UK, and Germany.
“Art Speaks Out†is a worldwide forum — an invitation to open our eyes to climate change, our responsibility to the planet, and the necessity of adopting measures of sustainability.
The work is comprised of two parts: Carbon Geologies, set in the tar sands of the boreal forests of Northern Canada, and Hydro Geographies, set in flood-threatened Bangladesh. The connection between a tar sands project in northern Canada the size of England and dangerous weather patterns and rising sea levels in Bangladesh sheds light on the global effects of man-made natural disaster. The video, narrated in an eerie whisper, begins with aerial views of the inconceivably toxic tar sands wasteland, entirely devoid of wildlife and birds,  and progresses to footage of Bangladeshis collecting clay in plastic sacks to reinforce the embankments in lower-lying areas—“collective social actions to protect villages on the outer rim of these amphibian territories.â€
“Climate change, exasperated by projects such as the Canadian tar sands, puts the life of large world populations in danger. (…) Hands-on, machine-less work by thousands is what climate change will mean for most people in the deltas of the global south.â€
Blued Trees consists of a musical score painted with nontoxic slurry onto a series of trees growing on private land that lies in the path of the planned Spectra Energy Algonquin Incremental Market pipeline. The course of the pipeline runs within 115 feet of the Indian Point nuclear facility, and a Fukushima-scale event could annihilate the entire East coast of North America. This ambitious project seeks to halt the expansion of the pipeline by implementing an unexpected legal tool: artistic copyright. If the government grants Rahmani her copyright, Spectra would have to destroy the artwork to complete the pipeline expansion, thus infringing on its moral rights. It’s a brilliant strategy—if it works.
As we aggressively implement strategies towards 100% carbon-free energy and witness a greater proliferation of renewable energy infrastructures in our cities and landscapes, we have an opportunity to proactively address the aesthetic influence of these new machines through the lenses of planning, urban design, community benefit, and creative placemaking. Please join the Land Art Generator Initiative, Creative Carbon Scotland, SCENE Consulting, and ecoartscotland for a presentation and discussion about the aesthetic and cultural implications and the concomitant potential for community benefit of renewable energy infrastructure.
LAGI Founding Directors Elizabeth Monoian and Robert Ferry will speak about the LAGI 2016 Open Competition and the LAGI Glasgow project, highlighting the role that creatives are playing in the design of our energy futures.
Location: Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation
Date: lunchtime (12.30-2pm) 18 November 2015
The Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) brings together artists, architects, scientists, landscape architects, engineers, and others in a first of its kind collaboration. The goal of the Land Art Generator Initiative is to see to the design and construction of public art installations that uniquely combine aesthetics with utility-scale clean energy generation. The works will serve to inspire and educate while they provide renewable power to thousands of homes around the world.
ecoartscotland is a resource focused on art and ecology for artists, curators, critics, commissioners as well as scientists and policy makers. It includes ecoartscotland papers, a mix of discussions of works by artists and critical theoretical texts, and serves as a curatorial platform.
The U.S. Department of Arts and Culture (USDAC) is the nation’s only people-powered department. Organizing on both local and national levels, the USDAC harnesses the power of art and culture to cultivate the empathy and imagination needed to create a more just and vibrant world.
We’re now recruiting a third cohort of up to 18 volunteer Cultural Agents—deeply creative individuals committed to social change—to perform the USDAC at a local level and build capacity for long-term work.  From January to June 2016, Cultural Agents will take part in a series of online learning sessions, acquiring the context and practical skills to deepen local cultural organizing efforts within the context of a national movement for cultural democracy. Agents will host an event as part of a USDAC National Action, lead a local gathering or other cultural action, and ultimately, open up a local Field Office, a local network/chapter for ongoing organizing. This is a volunteer role.
CULTURAL AGENTS ARE:
Individuals with a demonstrated commitment to art, culture, and social change and who are inspired to take up the USDAC call to action.
Artists, organizers, educators, entrepreneurs, administrators, or others dedicated to fostering a creator culture in place of a consumer culture, and willing to volunteer their time.
Connected to local creative life and committed to contributing to a national movement around USDAC values, through local organizing.
Experienced in and comfortable with group facilitation and organizing.
Eager to learn from others doing similar work and to share expertise and experiences.
THE ROLE & COMMITMENT:
As a Cultural Agent, you’ll be part of a learning community with dedicated artist/activists from every region and background working in a variety of arts media and with many different issues. It’s a serious and potentially transformative commitment. We encourage applicants to do an honest self-assessment before applying. To build the network and ensure everyone’s success, we ask that Cultural Agents show up in the following ways:
Commit to abiding by a simple set of working agreements that create a context of integrity, inclusion, and mutual accountability within the USDAC.
From January 2016 to June 2016, show up biweekly for participatory online video calls to learn with and from folks who know cultural policy, community development, social media, grassroots organizing, creativity facilitation, and a host of other skills. Most calls are 90 minutes long, scheduled at the best times possible for the cohort. There is often a short reading or writing assignment for each call.
Read USDAC materials: you’ll receive a packet of useful how-tos every step of the way.
In January 2016, organize a local story circle—in your own living room or as part of a larger community event—for the USDAC’s People’s State of the Union.
In May 2016, host an Imagining (an arts-infused community dialogue focusing on the future of your community in general, or on a specific aspect such as education or environment); or another art-based project or campaign.
Take part in sharing updates and reflections about your progress before, during, and after your events.
Lay the groundwork for opening a “Field Officeâ€â€”a local chapter of the USDAC that meets periodically, organizes local projects/campaigns/initiatives, and participates in National Actions. Not every Cultural Agent will open a Field Office—that depends on local will and circumstances—but we ask everyone to consider ongoing impact and capacity-building, rather than focusing only on the short-term.
Benefits for Cultural Agents include:
Watch a short video from the 2014 Imaginings!
Interactive training, coalition-building and resource-sharing calls with your fellow Cultural Agents, the USDAC team and Cabinet, and invited special guests.
One-on-one advisory calls with experienced organizers and facilitators.
A national platform (social media, blog, etc) to share stories from your local cultural organizing.
A solidarity network of fellow Cultural Agents from across the country.
A modest budget for materials, space, and other expenses.
A shipment of USDAC swag (buttons & stickers).
An opportunity to serve your community, be a part of something larger, and connect at the ground level with a growing people-powered movement.
Cultural Agents tuning in for a training call.
BENEFITS FOR CULTURAL AGENTS WITH FIELD OFFICES INCLUDE:
Ongoing training/learning opportunities.
Amplification via USDAC storytelling platforms.
Presence on USDAC webpage.
USDAC email account, access to Zoom (video meeting platform), and Action Network (for building and communicating with a local base of supporters).
Fiscal sponsorship.
Team retreats and micro-grants for local projects (funding permitting).
TIMELINE:
Oct. 30: Applications open
Mon. Nov. 2 thru Fri. Nov. 20: Applications open
Fri. Nov. 20: Applications due
Fri. Dec. 4 thru Fri. Dec. 11: Interviews with finalists
Sat. Jan. 23 thru Sun. Jan. 31: People’s State of the Union Story Circles
Mon. May 30 thru Tues. June 7: Local initiatives
June and beyond: Launch of Field Offices
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED:
While we keep each Cultural Agent cohort small to build a close-knit team of peer organizers, the USDAC is an all-hands-on-deck effort. If you are not selected as a Cultural Agent this time or you’re not ready for the full commitment involved, know that there are other important ways of being involved. Check out the volunteer roles available on our Action Squad and stay posted on all opportunities by enlisting as a Citizen Artist. And of course, we invite everyone to take part in our National Actions (for example, see#DareToImagine, the most recent action, and stay tuned for the upcoming 2016 People’s State of the Union).
BA Kira O’Reilly has been appointed to the post of Lecturer in Ecology and Contemporary Performance at the Theatre Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki for the period 1 January 2016-31 July 2018. As part of the post, O’Reilly will also be leading the new MA pilot in Ecology and Contemporary Performance. The pilot degree programme is taught entirely in English.
Kira O’Reilly hails from Ireland and is currently residing in London. Starting in 1997, she has had a long international career in performing arts. O’Reilly’s artistic work has a strong focus on the current discourse in ecology and performing arts. Her works during the last few years include, among others,inthewrongplaceness (2005 – 2009) at Casino Luxembourg, Refolding (Laboratory Architectures) (2011) at The Arnolfini, and the position of Thinker in Residence at the SPILL 09 festival. In Finland she has previously taken part in the ANTI Contemporary Art Festival and Field Notes events during the 2000s.
O’Reilly has an extensive international network based on her artistic work as well as her teaching. She has previously held the position of Lecturer in the Time Based Arts degree programme at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff in 2008-2009, as well as that of Lecturer in Performing Arts at Cheltenham and Gloucester College 1999-2000. Additionally, she has been Visiting Lecturer at a number of universities since 2001, e.g. in Great Britain, Sweden, the US, Ireland, Canada and Australia. She has also published numerous articles within the field of performing arts.
The MA in Ecology and Contemporary Performance (MAECP) is the Theatre Academy’s new master’s degree pilot starting in 2016. It focuses on performing arts in the current era of ecological crisis. MAECP investigates different forms of performance and performing arts, their methodology and theoretical bases in the borderland of science and the arts. Its aim is to develop co-operation, interaction and methods of performance, as well as develop the foundation and practices of work that transcend the borders between art and science. In this manner it strives to respond to the challenges posed by the ecological crisis that will affect all species.
MAECP is part of the University of the Arts Helsinki’s internationalization as well as the goal of developing multiform interaction with society at large.
Julie’s Bicycle and The Tetley invite you to join us for a conversation around environmental sustainability in the arts.
What does a sustainable future look like for the arts and culture? What kind of leadership do we need to galvanise change? How can we work together to create a strong and resilient sector?
Ahead of the UN climate talks (COP21) in Paris this December, Culture and Sustainability brings together cultural leaders, arts organisations and practitioners to share knowledge and experience, and discuss our collective response moving forward.
Julie’s Bicycle and Arts Council England will launch the latest results from our Environmental Sustainability partnership, sharing insights on how the arts and culture are addressing and benefiting from environmental sustainability, and what role the creative sector will play at COP21.
Event Details: 11th November 2015  - 10:00am — 5:00pm
We will be joined by those leading on approaches to sustainability in practice, guest speakers confirmed on the panel include:
Alan Lane | Director, Slung Low and The Hub -Â Growing and Giving – Engaging communities through their urban allotment created from 27 discarded bathtubs
Laura McFarlane-Shopes | Coordinator, Leeds Tidal -Â For the Love of Yorkshire festival takes place throughout November and December and is a county-wide programme of climate-related activities and events.
The day will include ample time for networking and discussion, so you can come away with a sense of purpose and action.
After the main event we are inviting ACE NPOs and MPM organisations to a free focussed surgery on environmental action planning and the reporting requirements and process for April 2016.
One man’s trash is…well, you know how it goes!
