It is our aim as an arts festival to continually review our activities in light of climate change and to act responsibly to run environmentally friendly events in the most sustainable way possible. 

We will be considering the following in our plans:

Overall messaging: in line with *SCVO’s Environmental Policy, we will be encouraging all participants (speakers, artists, partners, sponsors, volunteers and audiences) to think about relevant areas of sustainability, including how they travel to attend the festival, the use of materials from sustainable sources, the efficient use of water and energy sources, minimising the use of non-biodegradable materials and minimising waste by its appropriate recycling and responsible disposal. (*Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations)

Transportation: to encourage all participants to use public transport, active travel (cycling, walking or wheeling) or shared car journeys to attend festival events. We plan to use Nairn’s electric community buses for some events to help reduce car use.

Venues: our main venue, Nairn Community and Arts Centre, recently ended its use of single use plastics and installed solar panels, an EV charging point and energy efficient windows. We will be advocating the use of biodegradable disposable cups, and glasses, at the Centre. James’s Café, our partner venue for live outdoor music events already uses them. We advocate responsible rubbish disposal at our events.

Print Promotion: to research the use of recycled or sustainably sourced paper in our printed materials (building contingency in to our print budget for this).

Materials used by artists: we will be asking our artists where appropriate to use sustainable  /biodegradable / recycled materials in their work.

Events: our programme will include a strand of events highlighting our immediate and extended environment - how better to care for it and exist within it. We hope to continue to use artists who build such advocacy into their workshops particularly those working with children and young people.  We will also engage speakers who are advocates for change. 

Planning for the future: we will incorporate our natural environment as a strong thread in creative ways – talks, walks, performance and creative workshops - in every festival, alongside encouraging environmental sustainability in all festival events. We aim to partner with businesses and organisations whose values and approach to sustainability echo our own.

This policy continues to evolve. We are in the process of working on a revised updated Articles of Association to include a commitment to sustainability.

Reviewed 17/03/23