CIMAM Joins the Culture for the Planet Alliance
A major step forward for sustainability in the arts and cultural sector: Culture for the Planet Alliance officially launches and announces the first list of Founding Members. The global community of practice is uniting leading arts and cultural organisations around a shared commitment to sustainability. Founding Members include major arts and cultural institutions from around the world, along with key sector associations and networks that offer insight into the collective needs of their members.
The Culture for the Planet Alliance is part of the research-for-action project created in collaboration between two major universities, the University of Lausanne and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences. Funded by the Swiss BRIDGE Discovery Grant and building on a pilot study involving over 200 organisations across 43 countries (Müller & Grieshaber, 2023), this initiative brings together cutting-edge academic research and practical innovation to empower arts and cultural organisations to accelerate the sustainability transition.
Research-informed innovation for the sector
Culture for the Planet understands the urgency for the integration of existing initiatives while considering the unique context of the arts and cultural sector. The Alliance is the first step in the ambitious project, structured around four action pillars: connect, manage, certify, and qualify.
The Alliance connects leading museums, theatres, operas, sector associations, funders, and policymakers in a global community of practice, fostering peer exchange and shared strategies. The Founding Members will work closely with researchers to co-develop solutions designed specifically for the sector.
The additional action pillars refer to outcomes that will emerge from this collaboration. A dedicated framework and set of indicators will help organisations manage their sustainability performance in a structured and measurable way. An internationally recognised standard will allow institutions to certify their sustainability achievements, gaining public recognition and enhancing transparency and trust. A tailored curriculum will qualify professionals by equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to integrate sustainability into governance, operations, and artistic practice.
One sector, one voice
The Alliance seeks to foster a shared understanding of what it means to be sustainable in arts and cultural organisations. Collective and coordinated action is essential, and this belief lies at the heart of the initiative. Arts and cultural organisations hold significant public trust and wide reach. They are uniquely positioned to raise awareness, inspire change, and act as role models for sustainable practices. The growth of sustainability initiatives within the sector in recent years has set the stage for coordinated action with global recognition and impact.
Culture for the Planet announces the following institutions as confirmed Founding Member:
- Théâtre Vidy - Lausanne – Lausanne, Switzerland
- Plateforme 10 – Lausanne, Switzerland
- Tate Modern – London, UK
- Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP) – São Paulo, Brazil
- Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza – Madrid, Spain
- M+ - Hong Kong, China
- National Galleries Scotland – Edinburgh, UK
- Instituto Inhotim – Brumadinho, Brazil
- CUHK Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change – Hong Kong, China
- Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK) - Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Göteborg Opera – Gothenburg, Sweden
- La Monnaie De Munt Opera – Brussels, Belgium
- Dubai Opera – Dubai, UAE
- Teatro Solís - Montevideo, Uruguay
- Bühnen Graz – Graz, Austria
- ICOM SUSTAIN
- CIMAM – International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art.
- Ibermuseos
- Opera Europa
More Founding Members are expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
The work ahead
During 2025, the Founding Members of the Culture for the Planet Alliance will begin their collaborative work with researchers to ensure that each step within the action pillars reflects both academic rigour and sector expertise. This close collaboration is the heart of the initiative: every solution produced will combine evidence-based research with the professional experience of the world’s leading arts and cultural institutions.
The year will culminate in an Inaugural Culture for the Planet Summit, held from 8 to 10 October 2025 in Lausanne, Switzerland, bringing together Founding Members, arts and cultural organisations, researchers, and policymakers from around the world.
More information to come. Visit Culture for the Planet Alliance website for learning more or join the Alliance. https://www.culturefortheplanet.org/