Radić Pavilion, Oudolf Field, Hauser & Wirth Somerset. Photo: Jason Ingram

Hosting ‘Sustainability In Action’ Conference in Somerset

6 June 2022

Bringing together leading voices from art industry to share knowledge around environmental sustainability

As part of our ongoing commitment to facilitating dialogue and disseminating information with the global art community, ‘Sustainability In Action’ will provide a dynamic platform for action-focused industry collaboration, dialogue and knowledge sharing. The line up of speakers includes artist Pipilotti Rist, Artists Commit; Art/Switch; Art to Acres; Christie’s; ClientEarth; Kate MacGarry; Frances Morris, Tate Modern; Gallery Climate Coalition; Hospital Rooms; KiCulture; Paul Tukey of Glenstone Museum and Superflex. Taking place on Friday 15 July 2022, the day-long conference will be a hybrid, digital and in real life event, uniting international arts sustainability networks, hosted by Hauser & Wirth CEO Ewan Venters and chaired by art writer, broadcaster and The Art Newspaper correspondent, Louisa Buck.

Following four key themes, the conference will explore how artist studios are working towards environmental best practice, collectors who are actively supporting industry conscious approaches, galleries that are taking immediate action and organizations that are implementing changes within the supply chain. The event will feature a special presentation by guest artist speaker Pipilotti Rist, whose studio has long practiced sustainable methods for shipping and travel. Rist’s recent 2021 survey at The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) was the first carbon-calculated exhibition to be organized by the museum.

‘Sustainability In Action’ is a forum for change-makers within our sector to share and engage in active dialogue that leads to real action across the art ecosystem. At Hauser & Wirth we have accelerated our actions to cultivate a more sustainable future for our artists and communities and are committed to supporting, enabling and learning so that more can be done more readily. We are fully aware that the sharing of knowledge is key to shifting the way in which the sector operates longer-term and are committed to creating opportunities to do so.’—Ewan Venters

Developed by our Global Head of Environmental Sustainability, Cliodhna Murphy, the conference will initiate conversation and debate around key learnings in relation to the gallery’s climate action plan, with a focus on the decarbonization of the Somerset site and commitment to reduce emissions by at least 50% before 2030. As part of the four central pillars to the day, the group will focus specifically on ways in which we can collectively develop scope 3 working standard (flights and shipping) within the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Register now to attend the conference remotely via our online live stream. Learn more about the gallery’s commitment to environmental sustainability here.