[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":633},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-sustainability-2025-report-card":3},{"title":4,"summary":5,"primaryImage":6,"heroImage":26,"heroTagline":37,"newsTags":38,"postDate":52,"location":11,"author":53,"authorLink":54,"intro":62,"slices5":68,"presentedBy":161,"partners":166,"withRelatedNews":171,"relatedNews":172,"tags":629,"id":631,"publishedDate":632},"Our Sustainability 2025 Report Card ","Head of Production Gareth Hughes reflects on Walk the Plank’s sustainability dataset and our commitment to reducing emissions as a outdoor arts organisation.",{"dimensions":7,"alt":10,"copyright":11,"url":12,"id":13,"edit":14,"meta":19},{"width":8,"height":9},4000,3000,"Lumenators holding their geolights walking in the landscape",null,"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/8386ef9d-d6db-473b-bca6-3fc35fbd21c9_2022_08_07_GreenSpaceDarkSkies_LRG-1124.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=139,0,2223,1667&w=4000&h=3000","ZQHZqhIAACMAk9iz",{"x":15,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},139,0,1,"transparent",{"dimensions":20,"alt":10,"copyright":11,"url":23,"id":13,"edit":24},{"width":21,"height":22},1200,630,"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/8386ef9d-d6db-473b-bca6-3fc35fbd21c9_2022_08_07_GreenSpaceDarkSkies_LRG-1124.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=0,177,2500,1313&w=1200&h=630",{"x":16,"y":25,"zoom":17,"background":18},177,{"dimensions":27,"alt":10,"copyright":11,"url":29,"id":13,"edit":30,"portrait":32},{"width":8,"height":28},2850,"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/8386ef9d-d6db-473b-bca6-3fc35fbd21c9_2022_08_07_GreenSpaceDarkSkies_LRG-1124.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=80,0,2340,1667&w=4000&h=2850",{"x":31,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},80,{"dimensions":33,"alt":10,"copyright":11,"url":34,"id":13,"edit":35},{"width":28,"height":8},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/8386ef9d-d6db-473b-bca6-3fc35fbd21c9_2022_08_07_GreenSpaceDarkSkies_LRG-1124.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=656,0,1188,1667&w=2850&h=4000",{"x":36,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},656,[],[39],{"newsTag":40},{"id":41,"type":42,"tags":43,"lang":44,"slug":45,"first_publication_date":46,"last_publication_date":46,"uid":45,"data":47,"link_type":49,"key":50,"isBroken":51},"ZICbOhAAACEAg-h0","newsTag",[],"en-gb","thoughts","2023-06-07T14:59:09+0000",{"title":48},"Thoughts","Document","68365cf3-0eae-42fc-a9ab-aad2ed6eb208",false,"2026-01-20T00:00:00+0000","Gareth Hughes",{"id":55,"type":56,"tags":57,"lang":44,"slug":58,"first_publication_date":59,"last_publication_date":60,"uid":58,"link_type":49,"key":61,"isBroken":51},"Zco9vxEAAO9jFiwS","team",[],"gareth-hughes","2024-02-12T15:51:05+0000","2025-05-07T10:13:53+0000","d07f8c52-a866-415c-b325-76564acb3734",[63],{"type":64,"text":65,"spans":66,"direction":67},"paragraph","Reminiscent of the days waiting anxiously for exam results, on Thursday 8 January we were about to see our 2025 sustainability datasets, the measurements from our usage of power, water, to fleet travel and project accommodation through to bottled gas usage and everything between.  ",[],"ltr",[69,92,110],{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":72,"primary":73,"id":90,"slice_type":91,"slice_label":11},"default","initial",[],{"heading":11,"body":74},[75,78,81,84,87],{"type":64,"text":76,"spans":77,"direction":67},"This is a key milestone on our sustainable journey; and in true dramatic style before I reveal the results; here’s the 2024 to 2025 season recap: ",[],{"type":64,"text":79,"spans":80,"direction":67},"We have stress tested our data collection rationale and processes; the aim to ensure we have high confidence in the data sets which would ensure action planning could be efficient and focused, whilst also helping to establish a benchmark that can be used to measure our successes and highlight our challenges. ",[],{"type":64,"text":82,"spans":83,"direction":67},"We convened a strategic working group to sandbox our approach to sustainable issues and the ambitions for our work streams.  This platform enabled a framework to be produced that would go on to be developed into a new action plan focused on achieving our strategic objectives. ",[],{"type":64,"text":85,"spans":86,"direction":67},"We then produced a new action plan; split out from our ambitions into business strands and key objectives with outcomes for differing departments within the company. ",[],{"type":64,"text":88,"spans":89,"direction":67},"We shared, talked, listened, reflected and adapted. ",[],"text_block$25d71b7b-7313-4604-8c29-f18e493cce4a","text_block",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":93,"primary":94,"id":108,"slice_type":109,"slice_label":11},[],{"image":95,"caption":11},{"dimensions":96,"alt":98,"copyright":11,"url":99,"id":100,"edit":101,"portrait":103},{"width":8,"height":97},2000,"A structure of a whale in a river surrounded by city buildings","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/22ceacf1-bc82-4936-b5cc-9cc1628329d6_Whale+structure+for+The+Last+130.+Image+courtesy+of+WWF.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=0,145,2500,1250&w=4000&h=2000","ZL-nkBEAACIAMQUx",{"x":16,"y":102,"zoom":17,"background":18},145,{"dimensions":104,"alt":98,"copyright":11,"url":105,"id":100,"edit":106},{"width":28,"height":8},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/22ceacf1-bc82-4936-b5cc-9cc1628329d6_Whale+structure+for+The+Last+130.+Image+courtesy+of+WWF.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=701,0,1097,1540&w=2850&h=4000",{"x":107,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},701,"full_width_image_block$9acb94c9-4e69-43c7-a30f-2b37d048d54d","full_width_image_block",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":111,"primary":112,"id":160,"slice_type":91,"slice_label":11},[],{"heading":11,"body":113},[114,117,120,129,135,138,143,146,151,154,157],{"type":64,"text":115,"spans":116,"direction":67},"As we head into 2026, we have been taking stock, gathering thoughts and reflecting:  ",[],{"type":64,"text":118,"spans":119,"direction":67},"Firstly, our action plan was reviewed with the Sustainability Working Group and areas that are working and areas requiring a refocus or improvement were highlighted. We are being ambitious with our approach so not unexpectedly there is a mix of successes and areas of improvement:  ",[],{"type":121,"text":122,"spans":123,"direction":67},"list-item","Doing well – Repositioning Sustainability within the company mix, developing good data collection processes, measuring and reducing scope 2 emissions.  ",[124,127],{"start":16,"end":125,"type":126},10,"em",{"start":16,"end":125,"type":128},"strong",{"type":121,"text":130,"spans":131,"direction":67},"Could do better – Procurement processes in line with good sustainability practices, waste split and management. ",[132,134],{"start":16,"end":133,"type":126},15,{"start":16,"end":133,"type":128},{"type":64,"text":136,"spans":137,"direction":67},"Secondly, we got to see the 2025 data results which can now be benchmarked against the previous year. In the next few years, we will be able to chart trends and changes in our emissions that further inform and evolve are approaches to minimising our impact on the planet. The top line assessment is good: ",[],{"type":121,"text":139,"spans":140,"direction":67},"Doing Well - Our overall C02 equivalent in tonnes has dropped from 137.04 in 2024 to 90 in 2025, a decrease of 34%.  ",[141,142],{"start":16,"end":125,"type":126},{"start":16,"end":125,"type":128},{"type":64,"text":144,"spans":145,"direction":67},"A key contributor to this can be seen from our new solar array being operational throughout the year, with an increase in generation of 246%. And generally, across each of our measurement sectors we are decreasing our emissions in smaller percentages, but the overall collective endeavour is adding to a greater result as a whole.  ",[],{"type":121,"text":147,"spans":148,"direction":67},"Could do better - We have a marked increase of impact in hotel accommodation, fleet and personal fuel expenses.  ",[149,150],{"start":16,"end":133,"type":126},{"start":16,"end":133,"type":128},{"type":64,"text":152,"spans":153,"direction":67},"We recognise there will be fluctuations in our impact as company growth, turnover, and geographic area of operations have a large determining factor on where our focuses should be. A reflection of this is our work in the North East last year showing a spike in fleet travel and hotel stays. We will continue to ensure train travel is considered a priority and its environmental impact further weighted against cost and convenience of other modes of transportation. ",[],{"type":64,"text":155,"spans":156,"direction":67},"The 2025 Report Card is a positive one, doing well overall with areas of improvement. ",[],{"type":64,"text":158,"spans":159,"direction":67},"B+ ",[],"text_block$ef151fc4-94c8-423f-b4a1-5c0ba4d73157",[162],{"link":163,"label":11,"logo":165},{"link_type":164},"Web",{},[167],{"link":168,"label":11,"logo":170},{"link_type":169},"Any",{},true,[173,442],{"id":174,"postDate":175,"type":176,"uid":177,"author":178,"presentedBy":179,"authorLink":183,"slices5":189,"intro":380,"withRelatedNews":171,"title":392,"relatedNews":393,"primaryImage":411,"summary":422,"heroImage":423,"location":432,"partners":433,"newsTags":437},"Z7R2-RIAACEA3QsT","2025-02-18T00:00:00+0000","news","international-touring-environmental-responsibility","Rebecca Lee",[180],{"link":181,"label":11,"logo":182},{"link_type":164},{},{"id":184,"type":185,"tags":186,"lang":11,"slug":187,"first_publication_date":11,"last_publication_date":11,"link_type":49,"key":188,"isBroken":171},"ZJAiuhAAAGMcvpM7","broken_type",[],"-","37be2c35-bb0b-46c6-96a6-54371eee7f27",[190,225,265,338],{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":191,"primary":192,"id":224,"slice_type":91,"slice_label":11},[],{"heading":11,"body":193},[194,199,209,212,215,218,221],{"type":64,"text":195,"spans":196,"direction":67},"Here’s what Rebecca had to say about her experience on the project – and the questions it brought up.",[197],{"start":16,"end":198,"type":128},101,{"type":64,"text":200,"spans":201,"direction":67},"Participating in Julie's Bicycle International Touring and Environmental Responsibility (ITER) programme was a wonderful opportunity to learn alongside artists and art makers from across the sector, all at various stages of growth and working in a variety of landscapes.",[202],{"start":203,"end":204,"type":205,"data":206},17,32,"hyperlink",{"link_type":164,"url":207,"target":208},"https://juliesbicycle.com/","_self",{"type":64,"text":210,"spans":211,"direction":67},"The ITER programme offered me new insights, but also time to reflect on work at Walk the Plank and our own efforts around international touring and environmental responsibility.",[],{"type":64,"text":213,"spans":214,"direction":67},"I took part in the programme while delivering a variety of projects, including Midsummer Mystery, which saw us working in the Arctic Circle in the city of Bodo, Norway.",[],{"type":64,"text":216,"spans":217,"direction":67},"Procuring items and trying to deliver an outdoor spectacle in a remote location with limited access to the tools and equipment due to the differing costs in the UK and Norway was a huge challenge and just one of many. This raised numerous questions about how we work in the most sustainable way when facing the realities of working on an international scale.",[],{"type":64,"text":219,"spans":220,"direction":67},"How do we currently work? What changes need to be made? What are the realities? What are the challenges that are stopping us from making that positive change?",[],{"type":64,"text":222,"spans":223,"direction":67},"Walk the Plank is housed within Cobden Works, a place with a wonderful workshop that is constantly playing, making, building and testing. We have a strong sustainability policy; our team has received climate literacy training; and we are invested in creating art that is made with the climate crisis in mind. This is rarely an easy challenge, but one which we embrace readily.",[],"text_block$8235af27-8b58-4549-a1fa-2ab6f0645178",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":226,"primary":262,"id":263,"slice_type":264,"slice_label":11},[227,234,241,247,256],{"image":228,"caption":11},{"dimensions":229,"alt":11,"copyright":11,"url":230,"id":231,"edit":232},{"width":8,"height":28},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/ZnmNe5bWFbowez2Y_midsummer_mystery_show_DAE_28.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=193,0,5614,4000&w=4000&h=2850","ZnmNe5bWFbowez2Y",{"x":233,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},193,{"image":235,"caption":11},{"dimensions":236,"alt":11,"copyright":11,"url":237,"id":238,"edit":239},{"width":8,"height":28},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/Z7Sbr57c43Q3f66o_midsummer_forberedelser_DavidEngmo_Bod%C3%B82024-8-.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=127,0,3683,2624&w=4000&h=2850","Z7Sbr57c43Q3f66o",{"x":240,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},127,{"image":242,"caption":11},{"dimensions":243,"alt":11,"copyright":11,"url":244,"id":245,"edit":246},{"width":8,"height":28},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/ZnRLTJm069VX17QE_midsummer_forberedelser_DavidEngmo_Bod%C3%B82024.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=193,0,5614,4000&w=4000&h=2850","ZnRLTJm069VX17QE",{"x":233,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},{"image":248,"caption":11},{"dimensions":249,"alt":250,"copyright":251,"url":252,"id":253,"edit":254},{"width":8,"height":28},"A group of people standing under a wooden structure by the coast","Fredrik Stenbro, Bodø24","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/ZnmN45bWFbowez22_MidsummerMysteryforestilling-45.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=96,0,2807,2000&w=4000&h=2850","ZnmN45bWFbowez22",{"x":255,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},96,{"image":257,"caption":11},{"dimensions":258,"alt":11,"copyright":11,"url":259,"id":260,"edit":261},{"width":8,"height":28},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/Z7Sbop7c43Q3f66h_midsummer_forberedelser_DavidEngmo_Bod%C3%B82024-26-.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=193,0,5614,4000&w=4000&h=2850","Z7Sbop7c43Q3f66h",{"x":233,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},{},"image_carousel_block$3631a7a4-43f0-476a-911e-8e965e4b665c","image_carousel_block",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":266,"primary":267,"id":337,"slice_type":91,"slice_label":11},[],{"heading":268,"body":269},"Challenges, Realities and Questions to Ponder…",[270,273,276,279,282,285,288,291,294,297,300,303,306,309,312,325,328,331,334],{"type":121,"text":271,"spans":272,"direction":67},"Time",[],{"type":64,"text":274,"spans":275,"direction":67},"We are constantly working to (fairly) tight deadlines. Pre-pitch, have we taken the time and resources to have conversations with makers, technicians, and fabricators? Is the wealth of knowledge that these individuals have factored into the greenest means of working, fabricating, sourcing etc?",[],{"type":121,"text":277,"spans":278,"direction":67},"Resources",[],{"type":64,"text":280,"spans":281,"direction":67},"We had a big cleanout of the workshop and it highlighted the vast amounts of material we had hidden away. Ensuring our inventory is up to date and in good order takes time and labour that we do not always have. Ordering new is almost always quicker than sourcing pre-loved. How can we utilise what we already have, a little better? ",[],{"type":121,"text":283,"spans":284,"direction":67},"Sourcing Locally when Working Internationally",[],{"type":64,"text":286,"spans":287,"direction":67},"This was a massive learning curve off the back of working in Bodø. Project Producers and the Production Team had every intention of supporting local labour and materials, but the reality was that both were cheaper and more readily available in the UK. How do we find a better balance between our carbon footprint and financial viability?",[],{"type":121,"text":289,"spans":290,"direction":67},"Storage",[],{"type":64,"text":292,"spans":293,"direction":67},"Space is limited. We have large, beautiful spaces but they are also crammed full! How do we decide when a make has reached the end of its life, what is useful for the future, how we might repurpose it? We are creatives, everything is a possibility – but passing things on at the end of a gig can be heart-wrenching. Are we able to decide on a makes next life at point of conceptualisation and creation?",[],{"type":121,"text":295,"spans":296,"direction":67},"Repairing",[],{"type":64,"text":298,"spans":299,"direction":67},"Is a dying trade, and as it dies, buying new also becomes cheaper! Do we have the expertise to repair on our team? How do we value this skill, can we encourage it?",[],{"type":121,"text":301,"spans":302,"direction":67},"Green Riders ",[],{"type":64,"text":304,"spans":305,"direction":67},"Are documents with green clauses that remind the client of what we stand for, but also highlight our climate concerns and current way of managing our impact on the environment. They can be a powerful policy tool and in the current climate, some asks are almost normalised – for example, no bottled water. Others can be aspirational, something that reminds the client of our collective impact but also how we might manage it better together, for example, a joint responsibility for promoting sustainable travel options for audiences.",[],{"type":64,"text":307,"spans":308,"direction":67},"Julie’s Bicycle has a template that is freely available for adaptation, they also ask that organisations share their green riders with them for research and development of the sector. Walk the Plank’s production team has begun to build a Green Rider and hopes to bring it into action this year.",[],{"type":121,"text":310,"spans":311,"direction":67},"Resource Sharing",[],{"type":64,"text":313,"spans":314,"direction":67},"Does Walk the Plank have the capacity to lead on being Greater Manchester’s resource-sharing network? By this I mean a library of material – we have so much in our stores; by offering to others, we begin a cycle of reciprocity (hopefully!) Where we lend lights out and others offer a bit of leftover ply and others share their sewing machines. So that when makers across the region are looking for something, they know they can come to us – and even if we don’t have it, we might have a network of artists and companies who might be able to share. Again, it would take time and investment, but would be a wonderful thing to do. In the meantime take a look at Circular Arts Network's fantastic platform that has expanded to a West Yorkshire-specific site. ",[315,321],{"start":316,"end":317,"type":205,"data":318},659,680,{"link_type":164,"url":319,"target":320},"https://www.canarts.org.uk/","_blank",{"start":322,"end":107,"type":205,"data":323},693,{"link_type":164,"url":324,"target":320},"https://can.wearesail.org/",{"type":121,"text":326,"spans":327,"direction":67},"Committing to the Future",[],{"type":64,"text":329,"spans":330,"direction":67},"Does each gig make a commitment to a particular sustainability thing? The “just-one-thing” principle... It could be anything – e.g., there will be absolutely no polystyrene involved in the fabrication for this project… it could be bigger – we commit to a percentage of the project budget being invested in climate literacy for all volunteers in the parade.",[],{"type":64,"text":332,"spans":333,"direction":67},"The International Touring and Environmental Responsibility programme was a great learning journey. I have come out the other end with more questions than answers. Sustainability and climate justice are not easy topics to wrestle with, but the more we talk, the more we contemplate, the more we throw ideas out there and dare to fail, then the more hope there is for a better future. ",[],{"type":64,"text":335,"spans":336,"direction":67},"Talking of hope…",[],"text_block$a4490e04-3231-4ae2-a835-473128c820ec",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":339,"primary":340,"id":379,"slice_type":91,"slice_label":11},[],{"heading":341,"body":342},"Knowledge is Power",[343,346,354,357,365,368,376],{"type":64,"text":344,"spans":345,"direction":67},"It really is. There are so many organisations doing amazing, inspiring things, but often the challenge is finding time to absorb the expanse of education there is. So here are just a select few easily digestible guides that come to mind, sharing hopeful and practical tips.",[],{"type":121,"text":347,"spans":348,"direction":67},"Framing Climate Justice",[349,351],{"start":16,"end":350,"type":126},23,{"start":16,"end":350,"type":205,"data":352},{"link_type":164,"url":353,"target":320},"https://framingclimatejustice.org/",{"type":64,"text":355,"spans":356,"direction":67},"A 12-month community project that brought organisers from across the climate movement together. Their website offers clear and straightforward guidance on how we communicate about climate justice.",[],{"type":121,"text":358,"spans":359,"direction":67},"Creative Climate Justice",[360,362],{"start":16,"end":361,"type":126},24,{"start":16,"end":361,"type":205,"data":363},{"link_type":164,"url":364,"target":320},"chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https:/juliesbicycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Creative-Climate-Justice-Final.pdf",{"type":64,"text":366,"spans":367,"direction":67},"A guide by Julie’s Bicycle. It gives you cold hard facts, but also a good dose of hope. It isn’t too long a read and has insightful case studies.",[],{"type":121,"text":369,"spans":370,"direction":67}," No Climate Action Without Us",[371,373],{"start":17,"end":372,"type":126},29,{"start":17,"end":372,"type":205,"data":374},{"link_type":164,"url":375,"target":320},"chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https:/attitudeiseverything.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/No-climate-action-without-us_FINAL.pdf",{"type":64,"text":377,"spans":378,"direction":67},"Created by Attitude is Everything, offering advice and case studies as to how to include disabled people in live events sustainably.",[],"text_block$78954c44-6f9c-498e-ad2c-4b95b4cc6090",[381],{"type":64,"text":382,"spans":383,"direction":67},"Rebecca Lee, one of Walk the Plank’s Production Managers, participated in Julie’s Bicycle ten-week programme on International Touring and Environmental Responsibility, open to organisations and individuals working in the performing arts in England, Denmark and Norway.",[384,388],{"start":16,"end":385,"type":205,"data":386},11,{"id":184,"type":185,"tags":387,"lang":11,"slug":187,"first_publication_date":11,"last_publication_date":11,"link_type":49,"isBroken":171},[],{"start":389,"end":390,"type":205,"data":391},74,89,{"link_type":164,"url":207,"target":208},"International Touring and Environmental Responsibility",[394,402],{"entry":395},{"id":396,"type":176,"tags":397,"lang":44,"slug":398,"first_publication_date":399,"last_publication_date":400,"uid":398,"link_type":49,"key":401,"isBroken":51},"ZyoARhAAACAAnoa5",[],"dont-panic-health-and-safety","2024-11-05T11:23:53+0000","2024-11-05T12:14:16+0000","879ce21c-9e42-4914-adc6-790392285902",{"entry":403},{"id":404,"type":176,"tags":405,"lang":44,"slug":406,"first_publication_date":407,"last_publication_date":408,"uid":409,"link_type":49,"key":410,"isBroken":51},"ZktV0xEAACMAqisT",[],"diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging-journey---production-and-producing","2024-05-20T15:07:01+0000","2024-05-20T15:22:25+0000","deib-production-and-producing","b1dd7308-824e-46d1-a550-583e9b2b32c5",{"dimensions":412,"alt":11,"copyright":11,"url":413,"id":414,"edit":415,"meta":417},{"width":8,"height":9},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aCHPbSdWJ-7kR7H__Midsummer_Mischief_DAE_1.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=333,0,5333,4000&w=4000&h=3000","aCHPbSdWJ-7kR7H_",{"x":416,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},333,{"dimensions":418,"alt":11,"copyright":11,"url":419,"id":414,"edit":420},{"width":21,"height":22},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aCHPbSdWJ-7kR7H__Midsummer_Mischief_DAE_1.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=0,425,6000,3150&w=1200&h=630",{"x":16,"y":421,"zoom":17,"background":18},425,"Production Manager Rebecca Lee's thoughts on participating in Julie’s Bicycle ten-week programme on International Touring and Environmental Responsibility.",{"dimensions":424,"alt":11,"copyright":11,"url":425,"id":414,"edit":426,"portrait":427},{"width":8,"height":28},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aCHPbSdWJ-7kR7H__Midsummer_Mischief_DAE_1.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=193,0,5614,4000&w=4000&h=2850",{"x":233,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},{"dimensions":428,"alt":11,"copyright":11,"url":429,"id":414,"edit":430},{"width":28,"height":8},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aCHPbSdWJ-7kR7H__Midsummer_Mischief_DAE_1.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=1575,0,2850,4000&w=2850&h=4000",{"x":431,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},1575,"Salford",[434],{"link":435,"label":11,"logo":436},{"link_type":169},{},[438],{"newsTag":439},{"id":41,"type":42,"tags":440,"lang":44,"slug":45,"first_publication_date":46,"last_publication_date":46,"uid":45,"link_type":49,"key":441,"isBroken":51},[],"3a3fc143-c608-42c5-9b6a-e383d498110f",{"id":443,"postDate":444,"type":176,"uid":445,"author":53,"presentedBy":446,"authorLink":450,"slices5":453,"intro":577,"withRelatedNews":51,"title":581,"relatedNews":582,"primaryImage":599,"summary":611,"heroImage":612,"partners":622,"newsTags":626},"aDXF3xAAACAAymzr","2025-05-26T23:00:00+0000","tread-lightly-sustainability",[447],{"link":448,"label":11,"logo":449},{"link_type":164},{},{"id":55,"type":56,"tags":451,"lang":44,"slug":58,"first_publication_date":59,"last_publication_date":60,"uid":58,"link_type":49,"key":452,"isBroken":51},[],"7292557e-b20f-45a1-82ae-27939fe3d729",[454,483,517,537,565],{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":455,"primary":456,"id":482,"slice_type":91,"slice_label":11},[],{"heading":11,"body":457},[458,466,479],{"type":64,"text":459,"spans":460,"direction":67},"Conversely, since my taking up the role of Head of Production in 2024, I’ve been looking at how we minimise impact, how we tread lightly and where possible leave no trace. I’ve been leading on developing a new Sustainability Action Plan and Strategy, working across the organisation in looking how we continue our great work in the field. At times it has had me scratching my head, juggling the contrary journey of how we as outdoor arts professionals make a big impact for audiences and places, whilst ensuring our collective impact to the planet is as low as possible.",[461],{"start":462,"end":463,"type":205,"data":464},210,249,{"link_type":164,"url":465,"target":208},"https://walktheplank.cdn.prismic.io/walktheplank/Z9RITjiBA97Gif_X_SustainabilityPolicy2025-Compressed.pdf",{"type":64,"text":467,"spans":468,"direction":67},"My first steps were to dig into the abundance of great work we already do. Our sustainable practice is a key organisation thread; its prevalence sits alongside health and safety and our diversity, inclusion and equity priorities. I’ve been fortunate to have at my disposal a wealth of metrics, information and data; from our waste streams at Cobden Works to our fuel usage at the many Fire Gardens. This has enabled a deep dive into trends that add up to one of our key sustainability indicators, the organisations carbon equivalent footprint.",[469],{"start":470,"end":471,"type":205,"data":472},384,397,{"id":473,"type":474,"tags":475,"lang":44,"slug":476,"first_publication_date":477,"last_publication_date":478,"uid":476,"link_type":49,"isBroken":51},"ZJgwKhEAACEAoyDZ","project",[],"fire-garden","2023-06-26T08:07:39+0000","2026-04-14T11:13:09+0000",{"type":64,"text":480,"spans":481,"direction":67},"From the start of this process, I’ve been doing a lot of asking; asking our production and freelance team about how best to deal with workshop waste, how we account for propane, how we make better use of storage so we can easily reuse makes from historical projects. I’ve asked our communications team about the impact of digital and AI carbon contributions and how this informs our thinking for future action planning. I’ve worked closely with our central team about how best we measure our impacts and how this can be further improved. I’ve sought advice from colleagues and friends from within our sector (and from outside) about their experiences and pulled on their knowledge.",[],"text_block$87eb259c-744d-4b9d-b424-78f95c4ef1cf",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":484,"primary":515,"id":516,"slice_type":264,"slice_label":11},[485,492,500,508],{"image":486,"caption":11},{"dimensions":487,"alt":488,"copyright":11,"url":489,"id":490,"edit":491},{"width":8,"height":28},"A procession of people dressed in colourful outfits drumming in front of a crowd of onlookers with their phones out, taking photos","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aCHWgSdWJ-7kR7MK_ManchesterDayOnHoliday%2CMarkWaugh-150-.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=145,0,4211,3000&w=4000&h=2850","aCHWgSdWJ-7kR7MK",{"x":102,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},{"image":493,"caption":11},{"dimensions":494,"alt":495,"copyright":496,"url":497,"id":498,"edit":499},{"width":8,"height":28},"A large blue face being paraded above the crowd along a busy road","Manchester Day, 2019, Mark Waugh","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/f8561151-7f65-40a6-b364-7c053ebab1b7_Manchester+Day+2019_+Mark+Waugh+%2847%29.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=80,0,2340,1667&w=4000&h=2850","ZL-3vBEAAB4AMU9h",{"x":31,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},{"image":501,"caption":11},{"dimensions":502,"alt":503,"copyright":11,"url":504,"id":505,"edit":506},{"width":8,"height":28},"A large colourful parade full of community groups, watched by thousands of people","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aDXFFCdWJ-7kSlel_ManchesterDay2022%2CMarkWaugh-186-.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=112,0,3276,2334&w=4000&h=2850","aDXFFCdWJ-7kSlel",{"x":507,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},112,{"image":509,"caption":11},{"dimensions":510,"alt":511,"copyright":11,"url":512,"id":513,"edit":514},{"width":8,"height":28},"A person dressed in blue and white stripes, with a red neck scarf on a gondola float.","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/03f979b2-b057-4f13-bf36-057a07b81adb_MWjly23-484559.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=145,0,4211,3000&w=4000&h=2850","ZO37-xAAACAA_sJp",{"x":102,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},{},"image_carousel_block$882d7d23-7fdf-4874-a1a8-49750a3033ce",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":518,"primary":519,"id":536,"slice_type":91,"slice_label":11},[],{"heading":520,"body":521},"A few thoughts and conclusions gained on the journey so far:",[522,525,533],{"type":64,"text":523,"spans":524,"direction":67},"As an organisation we are dialled in, enthusiastic and knowledgeable for all things we can be doing to lessen our impact on the planet.  I’ve not needed to think about buy-in as we collectively know the importance of sustainability in all we do, but rather I’ve needed to dig deeper into priorities and weigh them up to our core activities as a business and arts organisation.",[],{"type":64,"text":526,"spans":527,"direction":67},"Understanding a whole life cycle approach for our processes has been key for my understanding and dealing with potential pressures on our work and the impacts on our sustainability. This includes looking at the life span of work, commissions, makes and fabrication projects. Through a process of ‘creation to deconstruction’ we are highlighting the knock-on demands of storage, maintenance and reuse of materials. As ever I’m always asking questions and help from our incredibly knowledgeable friends (big shout to GMAST and Emerge!).",[528],{"start":529,"end":530,"type":205,"data":531},515,520,{"link_type":164,"url":532,"target":208},"https://www.g-mast.org/",{"type":64,"text":534,"spans":535,"direction":67},"Thinking long term and being specific for short to medium term. Our action plan is a starting point that has also started the ball rolling on longer term ambitions for our work. Firstly, came knowledge of our challenges (most will hear my grumblings about the skip), then a look at how we adapt some of our process led work to address these challenges, and then through conversations and wider input how we continue to be innovators in the field. It is early days still, but I have confidence that this approach helps us have an eye on future challenges, such as environmental costs of AI usage and input into our data collection of our digital carbon footprint, through to the energy play off from recycling lithium batteries vs energy saved through their usage in our work, and whilst also seeking innovations in the materials we use most often.",[],"text_block$dba8860e-8a09-40e5-883b-4b10634c604b",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":538,"primary":563,"id":564,"slice_type":264,"slice_label":11},[539,547,555],{"image":540,"caption":11},{"dimensions":541,"alt":542,"copyright":11,"url":543,"id":544,"edit":545},{"width":8,"height":28},"A group of people in a outdoor installation lit in red playing with bubbles ","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/65ba6562615e73009ec4275a_BODYBeakerheadFestival2023,NeilMcElmon-45-.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=66,0,1916,1365&w=4000&h=2850","ZbplYmFecwCexCda",{"x":546,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},66,{"image":548,"caption":11},{"dimensions":549,"alt":550,"copyright":551,"url":552,"id":553,"edit":554},{"width":8,"height":28},"A person in a dark woodland area looking up at a giant blue lighting installation.","Body, Dublin Science Week, Science Foundation Ireland, 2022, Naoise Culhane","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/98bfbcd3-c4af-4b2a-8f45-30305d248ae1_Body_+Dublin+2022%2C+Science+Week%2C+Science+Foundation+Ireland+-+image+by+Naoise+Culhane+%2829%29.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=112,0,3276,2334&w=4000&h=2850","ZL-XcBEAAB4AMLeU",{"x":507,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},{"image":556,"caption":11},{"dimensions":557,"alt":558,"copyright":11,"url":559,"id":560,"edit":561},{"width":8,"height":28},"A person with blonde hair look in wonder at a fighting installation","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/f7ac5bfc-fb44-41fb-bf27-616fce9da544_Body_+Dublin+2022%2C+Science+Week%2C+Science+Foundation+Ireland+-+image+by+Naoise+Culhane+%2875%29.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=113,0,3274,2333&w=4000&h=2850","ZJ7JwBEAACAAvty2",{"x":562,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},113,{},"image_carousel_block$a535462e-ae15-406d-9fef-d12c9eacf210",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":566,"primary":567,"id":576,"slice_type":91,"slice_label":11},[],{"heading":568,"body":569},"The mission:",[570,573],{"type":64,"text":571,"spans":572,"direction":67},"We will drop our carbon emissions by 20% by the end of 2026 (based on 2024 levels). In 2024, our overall C02 equivalent was 166t, so we are aiming to find savings of 33.2tonnes (about 4.15 fully grown Tyrannosaurus Rex's). We will do this in a variety of ways from improving our waste monitoring and decreasing our mixed waste output to increasing our solar energy generation and investigating how we use that same energy in our shows. The new 2025 to 2026 Action Plan roadmaps the way and hopes to deliver us to this ambitious destination.",[],{"type":64,"text":574,"spans":575,"direction":67},"And a final thought, gleaned over the past few months; there is a tendency to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task at hand; protecting our planet for future generations. I’ve found that as a sector we inherently care about our impact, be that to create truly life affirming creative work, whilst also ensuring we are treading lightly and leaving only a sense of wonder as we go.",[],"text_block$7234d412-a63d-4a91-b167-3a1e5f9f8e41",[578],{"type":64,"text":579,"spans":580,"direction":67},"Our work at Walk the Plank is underpinned by several key threads. We are creatively ambitious, people driven, diverse in our attitudes to place and place making and most of our work aims to have a huge impact; bringing spectacle, imagination and the all-important WOW wherever we go.",[],"Tread Lightly - moving towards our new Sustainability Action Plan and our target for 2025 and 2026",[583,590],{"entry":584},{"id":174,"type":176,"tags":585,"lang":44,"slug":586,"first_publication_date":587,"last_publication_date":588,"uid":177,"link_type":49,"key":589,"isBroken":51},[],"international-touring-and-environmental-responsibility","2025-02-18T14:48:10+0000","2025-05-12T10:38:56+0000","6531d748-3be5-405b-945c-1a0b340a762b",{"entry":591},{"id":592,"type":176,"tags":593,"lang":44,"slug":594,"first_publication_date":595,"last_publication_date":596,"uid":597,"link_type":49,"key":598,"isBroken":51},"aAi1QhAAACIAiuFq",[],"reimagining-cities","2025-04-24T09:22:52+0000","2025-05-01T13:00:22+0000","reimaging-cities","af6f6043-aab0-46c6-8537-fd56528790f7",{"dimensions":600,"alt":601,"copyright":11,"url":602,"id":603,"edit":604,"meta":606},{"width":8,"height":9},"A person in a green cap and black hoodie with a orange skull and cross bones on it looking at a body of water with a dragon's head artwork on.","https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aDgxqSdWJ-7kSq9v_NBGWDragonsBreatheventWednesday15.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=174,0,3661,2746&w=4000&h=3000","aDgxqSdWJ-7kSq9v",{"x":605,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},174,{"dimensions":607,"alt":601,"copyright":11,"url":608,"id":603,"edit":609},{"width":21,"height":22},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aDgxqSdWJ-7kSq9v_NBGWDragonsBreatheventWednesday15.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=0,320,4010,2105&w=1200&h=630",{"x":16,"y":610,"zoom":17,"background":18},320,"Gareth Hughes, Walk the Plank's Head of Production reflects on our sustainability and creativity ambitions for 2025 and 2026.",{"dimensions":613,"alt":601,"copyright":11,"url":614,"id":603,"edit":615,"portrait":617},{"width":8,"height":28},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aDgxqSdWJ-7kSq9v_NBGWDragonsBreatheventWednesday15.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=78,0,3854,2746&w=4000&h=2850",{"x":616,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},78,{"dimensions":618,"alt":601,"copyright":11,"url":619,"id":603,"edit":620},{"width":28,"height":8},"https://images.prismic.io/walktheplank/aDgxqSdWJ-7kSq9v_NBGWDragonsBreatheventWednesday15.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=1027,0,1957,2746&w=2850&h=4000",{"x":621,"y":16,"zoom":17,"background":18},1027,[623],{"link":624,"label":11,"logo":625},{"link_type":169},{},[627],{"newsTag":628},{"link_type":49},[630],{"id":41,"postDate":46,"type":42,"uid":45,"title":48},"aW-s-hIAACIA4Lv9","2026-01-20T16:44:40+0000",1782134518025]