CIMAM at the Inaugural Culture for the Planet Summit
CIMAM is pleased to share the outcomes of the Inaugural Culture for the Planet Summit, held from 8 to 10 October 2025 in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Summit brought together more than thirty leaders from museums, theatres, and opera houses, alongside researchers, funders, and policymakers, marking the official launch of the Culture for the Planet Alliance, a global community committed to embedding sustainability across the arts and culture sector through shared evidence, collaborative learning, and collective action.
Over three days, participants engaged in workshops, masterclasses, and debates addressing how arts and culture can act as catalysts for systemic change. The Summit concluded with the Declaration of Lausanne, formally establishing the Alliance and reaffirming the essential role of the cultural sector in shaping a sustainable and equitable future.
This newly released Summary Report, authored by Diana Martello (ZHAW School of Management and Law), captures the key insights, methodologies, and commitments that emerged from the convening. It highlights the importance of ethical and collaborative approaches and outlines a roadmap for collective work in the years ahead.
CIMAM’s Contribution: Museums and Performing Arts. Voices of the Sector
CIMAM was represented at the Summit by the Sustainability Working Group, which provides practical resources and critical thinking for museum professionals to address the urgent challenges posed by the climate crisis and to strengthen ethical, sustainable practices across the field.
On 9 October, Mireia Azuara, Head of Communications & Sustainability at CIMAM, participated in the thematic panel “Museums and Performing Arts: Voices of the Sector”, together with:
- Celia Grau, Sustainability & Special Projects Manager, Opera Europa
- Morien Rees, Chair of ICOM Sustain and SAMBA Project Representative
- Moderator: Prof. Leticia Labaronne, Co-Lead, Culture for the Planet
This opening panel explored current developments, emerging challenges, and opportunities for collective action across disciplines and geographies. The discussion highlighted the need for shared vocabularies, ethical frameworks, and participatory methods to advance sustainability in meaningful and responsible ways.
Key Takeaways from the Discussion
- Sustainability must extend beyond technical compliance and be understood as an ethical practice grounded in diversity, reciprocity, care, and long-term relations with communities and ecosystems.
- Cultural organisations must reaffirm their civic mission and strengthen cross-sector cooperation, developing flexible, context-sensitive models that combine innovation with renewed cultures of care.
- From CIMAM’s perspective, sustainability is not a task but “a way of doing,” a relational and ongoing commitment that shapes how institutions engage with their communities and environments.
CIMAM’s Ongoing Commitment
The Summit resonates strongly with CIMAM’s long-term work in sustainability, including the Toolkit for Environmental Museum Practices, and the forthcoming Set of Ethical Principles for Sustainability informed by Indigenous and First Nations Perspectives to be launched in 2026.
As the Culture for the Planet Alliance moves forward, CIMAM remains committed to contributing to this shared movement and supporting museums worldwide in redefining sustainability as a cultural, ethical, and collaborative practice.
Led by: University of Lausanne, ZHAW School of Management and Law, FGSE UNIL - Faculté des géosciences et de l'environnement de l'Université de Lausanne, ZHAW Center for Arts Management.