Shift is an environmental sustainability network supporting cultural organisations across the Liverpool City Region. Founded and chaired by Metal since 2021, it brings together over 80 member organisations, from large scale venues to seasonal festivals and practice-lead arts groups, to share knowledge and drive collective climate action.
Environmental impact has been central to our work since 2018. In response to the IPCC’S warning on the urgency of climate action, we hosted an artist lab to explore what role artists could play in making a difference and shaping a more sustainable future. Our Liverpool home at Edge Hill Station, the oldest passenger railway station, also perhaps symbolises the start of our dependency on fossil fuels, a powerful reminder of our over-reliance on coal power.
Shift meetings take place every over month and are open to all members. To reduce travel and maximise accessibility, we offer an online option allowing as many members as possible to join us. Meetings move around different venues across the region but are often held at the Bluecoat, a key Shift member.
Each session features a guest speaker to inspire and inform our conversations. Speakers have included artists, curators and arts workers, as well as organisations and individuals outside of the arts who can share specialist knowledge, projects and perspectives. Recently explored topics have included air quality campaigns, urban biodiversity, circular economies, and more.
Members are encouraged to share updates on their own activities, creating a space where organisations of all sizes can learn from each other and explore different things we can do to reduce our emissions.
As part of the network, members commit to six core pledges. These range from capturing and reporting your annual carbon data, to selecting a team member responsible for increasing engagement with green issues within your organisation.
The meetings are co-chaired by Jenny Porter (Director) and Jim Valentine-Burrow (Producer).
To join Shift Liverpool, sign up to the newsletter and see the full list of pledges, visit the website here.
Shift was initially launched in March 2021 by Shaun Curtis and Nathalie Candel, with support from Arts Council England, Julie’s Bicycle and the Greater Manchester Arts Sustainability Team (GMAST). Together with Sustainability Arts in Leeds (SAIL) we form the Northern Sustainability Network.
