Museums and Galleries Responding to the Climate and Ecological Crisis at The Whitworth

Following COP26 and the release of NMDC’s report ‘Green Museums: Tackling the Climate Crisis’, NMDC is convening the Museums and Galleries Responding to the Climate and Ecological Crisis conference hosted at the Whitworth to explore the role of museums and galleries in combatting the climate and ecological crisis.

Museums and galleries have a unique perspective as institutions that take a long-term view with their mission to preserve collections and stories for the future. But how can they do so with the existential threat of the climate crisis? How can museums combat climate change and biodiversity loss? Museums and Galleries Responding to the Climate and Ecological Crisis will provide a forum to consider two key questions:

What can museums do to reduce their environmental impact?
How can museums inspire positive action?

Monday 7th March
11:30 – Welcome by Maria Balshaw, Director of Tate and Chair of NMDC

11:45 – Keynote: Henry McGhie, Curating Tomorrow: Climate Action is Not Just for COP

12:30 – Panel session: Engaging the Public as Active Citizens

Chair: Jenny Waldman, Art Fund

Panellists: Clare Matterson, Natural History Museum, Nick Merriman, the Horniman Museum and Gardens, Francine Hayfron, the Whitworth

13:45 – Lunch

14:30 – Panel session: Planning to Reach Net Zero

Chair: Sara Kassam, V&A

Panellists: Jamie Saye, Opera North, Naomi Garnett, Quaker Tapestry Museum, Craig Bentley, Science and Industry Museum, Simon Branson, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

15:30 – Break out discussion: the Road to Net Zero

16:30 – Afternoon break

16:45 – Keynote: Carly McLachlan, Professor of Climate and Energy Policy, Director of Tyndall Manchester

18:00 – Evening reception

Tuesday 8th March
09:00 – Online contribution: Zehra Ahmed & Jenny Newell, the Australian Museum: Taking Action on Climate Change & Sustainability at the Australian Museum

09:30 – Keynote: Heath Lowndes and Greg Hilty, Gallery Climate Coalition

10:00 – Coffee break

10:20 – Panel session: Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience

Chair: Lisa Ollerhead, Association of Independent