The theatres, galleries and other buildings owned or operated by the UK’s cultural organisations are essential national assets. They are also widely energy inefficient, ageing and in need of capital investment. Research commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) estimates the total value of necessary repair, maintenance and renewal work for public and third-sector cultural infrastructure in England alone is £7 billion – a scale of need that cannot currently be met by public funding alone.
This report provides evidence on real world energy and cost savings as well as the return on investment (ROI) from cultural retrofitting projects. It also identifies barriers and enablers of project success, to support understanding among cultural organisations, policymakers and funders involved in delivering these projects. Lastly, it explores whether the available returns could support a coordinated, strategic investment approach that could expedite projects and create scale in the level of funding available.
This research project was conceived by Figurative, a new, independent charity dedicated to supporting impact, investment and innovation in the cultural and creative sector, in partnership with Renew Culture, the organisation behind Theatre Green Book and Arts Green Book; Buro Happold, engineering and sustainability consultants; and MGAC, building consultants and quantity surveyors.
This report was co-commissioned and jointly developed by Arts Council England and the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre.
