The world is currently on the brink of linked environmental crises. In March 2026, the UN warned that the Earth’s climate is more out of balance than at any time in observed history, as greenhouse gas concentrations drive continued warming of the atmosphere and ocean and melting of ice, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). These rapid and large-scale changes have occurred within a few decades but will have harmful repercussions for hundreds – and potentially thousands – of years. Urgent action is needed across society, without this the problems will rapidly escalate.
The art world has a vital role to play. Arts organisations have a disproportionately large impact on the environment, mainly due to a great deal of international travel, arts shipping, high energy use and materials. We need to act urgently to reduce these impacts in line with research and what science is communicating. Arts organisations are in a unique position to use their public platforms and cultural influence to set a positive example, by encouraging and supporting others to take action and shift public debate.
At Sim Smith, our mission is to promote emerging artists, to provide an ambitious programme and to work collaboratively with other organisations to create platforms for engaging with art and to start conversations.
In order to be true to these values, we need to take urgent environmental action, because art and culture across the world is directly threatened by the climate crisis, and those from marginalised communities and cultures are most at risk, while also holding many of the most effective solutions to the climate crisis.
As an organisation, we know that our main direct environmental impacts include:
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International air freight and domestic road delivery of artworks for exhibitions and for private sales of work
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Travel for gallery days and air fairs
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Emissions from the daily operations of the gallery
We have committed to tackling these impacts by:
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Joining and maintaining an active membership at the Gallery Climate Coalition since 2022 and pledging to continuously reduce our carbon emissions, relative to the scale of the business and on a % basis
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Regularly calculating our carbon footprint of our operations, in order to track progress towards this target
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Reducing printing materials in the gallery and using recycled paper
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Consolidating as many shipments as possible, including private sales and art fair
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Ensuring that the majority of international shipments are carried out by rail, road, sea where possible
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Ensuring all of our packing materials are reusable or recyclable
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Alternative travel to flying for art fairs, such as train travel
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Maintaining a Green Team that meets to track progress on all of these targets and actions on a quarterly basis