How Can the Green Arts Initiative Support Freelancers?

Emma Risley, a PhD student from the University of Sheffield, is joining Creative Carbon Scotland for the next two months on a research project to help answer the question – how can the Green Arts Initiative (GAI) support freelance artists and creative practitioners in Scotland?

Emma will explore the potential of CCS's GAI materials and resources to support Scottish freelancers and learn how creative freelancers can benefit from and contribute to the GAI.

The GAI was established to support Scottish arts and cultural organisations to reduce their impact on the climate and environment, and to be at the forefront of creating a sustainable future for our sector and beyond. The initiative brings together over 450 cultural organisations across Scotland committed to addressing the climate emergency.

CCS support them by facilitating their Mighty Networks communication platform and supporting organisations to deliver on the Green Arts Charter through training, events and individual meetings.

Currently, Creative Carbon Scotland’s support for artist freelancers comes via our culture/SHIFT programme. However, we recognise that creative freelancers, who represent a significant portion of Scotland’s cultural sector, may need more support when embarking on, or continuing, their sustainability journey. The ultimate goal of this research is to help freelance artists become better equipped to reduce their impact on the climate and environment.

Using a mixed method approach, Emma will collect quantitative and qualitive data through a short survey, followed by a small number of in-depth interviews. She then aims to combine the findings in a report and make informed recommendations.

Individuals, based in Scotland, who work as creative freelancers are invited to complete the survey.