The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is delighted to announce that it is the first heritage organisation in the world to sign up to the EarthShakes Alliance - a global collective of Shakespearian theatres and organisations committed to putting environmental concerns at the heart of their operations.
The EarthShakes membership comes at an important time in the Trust’s journey to becoming environmentally sustainable with the goal of being carbon net-zero in its own emissions by 2030. Between 2016 and 2020 the Trust’s energy usage has almost halved, from 513 tonnes Co2e per annum to 269 tonnes CO2e. In addition, all of its energy contracts are with renewable suppliers.
Dr Paul Edmondson, head of research at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust: “Shakespeare’s plays present green spaces as the settings for conviviality, community, escape, and magic; places where we can find out truths about ourselves. He knew the importance of our balanced relationship with the natural world, a balance that was shifting during his own times. We seek to be part of this important conversation that Shakespeare continues to inspire, and our ambition is to work in as sustainable a way as possible to minimise our environmental impact, and to become an exemplar of an environmentally sustainable operation within the heritage sector.”
Dr Katie Brokaw and Dr Paul Prescott of EarthShakes Alliance: “We are thrilled to welcome the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to the EarthShakes Alliance. As caretakers of Shakespeare’s heritage in Stratford-upon-Avon, they are well positioned to make vital connections between the past and the future, and have already been practicing sustainability in many of their operations. We look forward to partnering with them as our first heritage and research organisation in the alliance.”
As part of efforts to raise awareness of its environmental commitments, the Trust is planning a number of initiatives over the coming months across its historic sites in Stratford-upon-Avon and digitally for everyone to get involved, including events and talks on the theme of Shakespeare and nature. For more information and updates, see see www.shakespeare.org.uk/about-us/sustainable-shakespeare
Read more about the SBT's environmental pledges on our own website, too.
Press release issued by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. For media enquiries please contact Alisan Cole, Communications Manager alisan.cole@shakespeare.org.uk / 07824 137638.
About Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is the independent charity that cares for the world’s greatest Shakespeare heritage in his home town of Stratford-upon-Avon. It is the global centre for learning about and experiencing the works, life and times of the world’s best-known writer. Through the five historic Shakespeare family homes, internationally designated museum, library and archive collections, award-winning learning programmes and digital channels, it provides imaginative, immersive and interactive opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to get up-close-and-personal with Shakespeare.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is a self-sustaining charity which generates its income through the support of visitors, donors, volunteers and Friends. In April 2018 it was granted National Portfolio funding from Arts Council England, enabling new creative and outreach programmes with a particular focus on communities which are currently less engaged in arts, culture and heritage. Its work is also supported by the UK Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. For more information, see www.shakespeare.org.uk
Shakespeare’s plays present green spaces as the settings for conviviality, community, escape, magic, places where we can find out truths about ourselves. He knew the importance of our balanced relationship with the natural world, a balance that was shifting during his own times. We seek to be part of this important conversation that Shakespeare continues to inspire, and our ambition is to work in as sustainable a way as possible to minimise our environmental impact, and to become an exemplar of an environmentally sustainable operation within the heritage sector.
