Culture of Sustainability

As an artists’ society, 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 cooperates with the Aktionsnetzwerk Nachhaltigkeit (Sustainability Action Network), a cross-disciplinary hub for the issue of operational ecology in culture and media, and aims for a partnership. 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.

Issues of sustainability are also firmly anchored in the work culture of the Akademie der Künste. The Sustainability Working Group, made up of employees from all of the Akademie’s departments, serves as a forum for the development and initiation of measures to improve the institution’s ecological footprint. The working group deals with topics ranging from the sustainable design of exhibitions and events, energy savings in the heating and air conditioning of exhibition rooms and archival depots, temperature reduction in heated areas, conversion of all lighting to LED technology, to environmentally friendly building cleaning and sustainable gastronomy. Other topics covered here include the existing offer of a company ticket for public transport and the introduction of the Deutschlandticket Job for employees of the Akademie der Künste.

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.