It is becoming impossible to overlook the impacts of the climate crisis. Global emissions are climbing, weather patterns are becoming more unpredictable, food systems are collapsing, and those who have done the least to cause the problem suffer the most. With multiple interlinked crises unfolding on a planetary scale, the need for change is more urgent than ever.

We must challenge ingrained behaviour and confront the root causes of the crisis. We must adapt how we create, consume, produce, travel, conduct business. We must redefine our understanding of ‘normal’.

These are significant challenges, but who better to rise to reimagine society than artists? Through storytelling, igniting collective action, amplifying marginalised voices, and embracing regenerative solutions, artists can do exactly this.

Established in 2020, Gallery Climate Coalition (GCC) has rapidly grown into an international charity and membership organisation. Now, with over 1,300 members, including artists, institutions, businesses, and galleries, we’re increasingly thinking about how artists can take action and build environmental responsibility into their practices. What role can artists play in creating the systemic changes we need to tackle the ecological emergency? 

In response, we’ve developed the GCC Artist Toolkit. It brings together ideas, solutions, and support for artists compelled to act on the climate crisis. From advocacy and activism to embedding sustainability within practices and production, we’ve produced effective actions, email templates, an Environmental Responsibility Rider template, and a comprehensive index of resources to support you further in effecting change.

The creation of the toolkit has been led by artist insights and enriched by contributions from a diverse range of environmentalists, researchers, conservators, public art producers, activists, scientists, and more - all of whom you can see here.

This toolkit is only the beginning. We hope to build on this collaborative foundation through further community building, and there are numerous ways to get involved. If you are an experienced climate advocate or you are new to the sustainability conversation, we invite you to join us in shaping the future of the art sector by becoming a GCC member. You can also participate in a Climate Impact Report with Artists Commit, or connect with the many collectives and networks identified in our Resource Index.

The need for action is more urgent than ever.

Authors

Aoife Fannin
Araceli Gomez Castro
Kim Kraczon

Designed by

David Naftalin

With special thanks to

Access Riders for Artists (Leah Clements, Alice Hattrick, and Lizzy Rose)
Amanda Gray
Ana Paola Flores
Anna Higgins
Aphra Shemza
Artists Commit
Artology
a-n The Artists Information Company
Bethany White
Carissa Andrew-Smith
Centre for Sustainable Curating
Cliodhna Murphy
Cornelia Parker
Danny Chivers
Deville Cohen
Ellie Monk
Gavin Turk
Heath Lowndes
Helen Wilson
Hendl Mirra
Himali Singh Soin
Industria
Jenny Kendler
Jess Slip
Julie Hall
Kate Robertson
Louis Brown
Louisa Buck
Marcus Coates
Mary Ellen Caroll / MEC, studios
Mishcon de Reya
Mona Yapova
Nicola Ferrao
Nnenna Okore
Poppy Paulus-Nicolas
Roy Claire Potter
ruangrupa
Ruth Maclennan
Sculpture Placement Group
Snyder Moreno Martin
Synthetic Collective
Vera Kox
Viola Eickmeier
X Breidenbach

GCC would like to thank Teiger Foundation for generously supporting the research and production of this toolkit.