Good Practices in Environmental Management in Municipal Cultural Services
Environmental values, programmes, certifications and management systems that guide organisational operations and content; allocation of resources and skills development; grants and partnerships; and guidance for event organisers.
Municipal cultural services—both those operated directly by municipalities and those they support—are increasingly paying attention to the environmental impacts of their operations. To support systematic environmental work, organisations define guiding values, adopt environmental management systems, develop environmental plans, and apply for certifications. These processes are often closely interlinked, as many systems and certifications require the creation of an environmental plan and progress toward defined goals. Cultural services also use various plans to guide the content they produce, such as collections, environmental awareness initiatives, and environmental education.
A key aspect of environmental management is resourcing: determining who is responsible for planning, implementing, and monitoring environmental work, and to what extent. This can be organised internally within cultural services—for example, through dedicated eco-teams—or as part of broader municipal sustainability efforts. Closely connected to the division of responsibilities is the development of staff expertise in environmental matters. This can be supported by including environmental topics in meeting agendas, participating in environmental networks, or engaging in development projects.
This article also considers how municipal cultural services promote sustainability through their influence on partners and grant recipients. Municipalities may, for example, provide environmental guidelines for event organisers and set ecological sustainability criteria for partnerships and cultural or event grants. These actions are typically carried out by the municipality’s general cultural services or other departments responsible for partnerships and events.
The examples in this article are drawn from the report Kuntien kulttuuripalveluiden ympäristötyön hyvät käytännöt (Best Practices in the Environmental Work of Municipal Cultural Services). The report offers a broad overview of good practices in Finnish libraries, arts and cultural institutions, cultural centres, basic education in the arts, and general cultural services.
Common Environmental Management Actions in Municipal Cultural Services
- Assessing environmental impacts and planning related actions
- Communicating environmental goals and measures on the organisation’s website
Good Practices
Environmental Values, Programmes, Certifications and Systems Guiding Organisational Operations and Content
Gallen-Kallela Museum • The Museum’s Environmental Commitment
The Gallen-Kallela Museum in Espoo is guided by an environmental commitment. Its goals include upholding the values of Akseli Gallen-Kallela and the museum—such as ecological responsibility, openness, reliability, and a human-centred approach—and preserving the Tarvaspää peninsula as a diverse local nature haven. The commitment includes concrete actions, such as phasing out fossil fuels in heating, switching to domestically produced green electricity, improving the energy efficiency of historic buildings, and restoring the grounds to withstand visitor use. The museum also promotes environmental awareness through its communications and shares knowledge of nature-friendly practices via exhibitions and public engagement. The museum was awarded the EcoCompass environmental certificate in 2021.
Kainuu Museum • Human–Nature Relationship as a Collection Policy Focus
Kainuu Museum is responsible for preserving, researching, and presenting the region’s cultural heritage. One of its key collection policy themes is the interaction between humans and nature.
Museum Leikki • Environmental Education Plan
Museum Leikki in Espoo published its environmental education plan in 2024. The plan explores the museum’s history and previous environmental education efforts, relevant regulations and policies, and its target audiences. In addition to outlining methods and impact, the plan presents the theoretical background of the museum’s environmental education. In practice, the plan is reflected in guided tours, workshops, events, and exhibitions. For example, exhibitions address sustainable lifestyles, such as toy recycling and intergenerational traditions of materials and play.
Oulu City Library • Sustainable Library 2030 Roadmap
In spring 2020, Oulu City Library developed the Sustainable Library 2030 roadmap to support its environmental work. The roadmap is based on the UN’s Agenda 2030 goals and the library’s own eco-promises from 2015. It outlines key development areas and a detailed action plan, structured around four main goals: promoting environmental awareness, reducing environmental impact, responsible construction, and building a sustainable library for the future. The library’s management and staff are committed to the roadmap through team-based implementation. Sustainable development is integrated into all library operations, supported by sustainability coordinators and eco-support staff. The roadmap is communicated to staff, customers, and stakeholders.
Oulu Symphony Orchestra • Elma Sustainability Programme
Oulu Symphony has developed a sustainability programme using Elma, a digital platform for sustainability in live music and performing arts. The programme outlines the orchestra’s current environmental status, goals, and actions, and is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Elma supports programme development with tools such as a ready-made action bank.
Salla Museum of War and Reconstruction • Certifications as Recognition of Responsibility
The Salla Museum of War and Reconstruction has received both the Green Key environmental certificate and the Sustainable Travel Finland label. To earn the international Green Key label, the museum met 13 criteria related to waste, energy, water, food, customer communication, and staff engagement. Sustainable Travel Finland is a programme for tourism operators and regions committed to sustainable development. Both certifications require continuous improvement in environmental and sustainability practices.
Multiple Municipalities • Sustainable Development in Cultural Education Plans
Many municipalities include sustainable development in their cultural education plans, often developed in collaboration with other sectors such as libraries and basic art education. These plans serve as tools for delivering cultural, artistic, and heritage education as part of school curricula. For example, in Salo, the Nappula cultural education plan supports fifth and sixth graders in learning about sustainability and responsible lifestyles. Ninth-grade themes include environmental competence and collaboration. In Vantaa, the plan is implemented through children’s cultural services and has included sustainability workshops for school groups in cooperation with the Helsinki metropolitan area reuse centre Kierrätyskeskus.
Multiple Theatres • Theatre Green Book
The Theatre Green Book is an environmental framework developed in the UK for performing arts institutions. Helsinki City Theatre, the Finnish National Opera and Ballet, and the Finnish Theatre Association have introduced the model in Finland and translated its materials into Finnish. The Green Book provides a shared model for sustainable theatre and offers practical tools for integrating environmental and social responsibility into everyday operations. Helsinki City Theatre has committed to the model and applied it in pilot productions in spring 2025, which included recycling targets.
Vantaa Cultural and Library Services • EcoCompass for the Service Area
Vantaa’s cultural and library services, part of the city’s Culture and Wellbeing Division, adopted the EcoCompass environmental management system. The process began with mapping key environmental impacts and current waste management practices. This was followed by environmental impact assessments, legal reviews, chemical inventories, and waste management plans. Each service unit developed its own environmental programme. Key themes for reducing environmental impact included material use, procurement, communication, and advocacy. The implementation of EcoCompass was part of a thesis project, and the division received its EcoCompass certificate at the end of 2024.
Certification Supporting Environmental Management
The Sustainable Development Certification for Educational Institutions, awarded by the OKKA Foundation, recognises an institution’s commitment to promoting sustainable development and its long-term efforts in environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The certificate, granted to Hiiden Opisto in early 2025, supports the institute’s long-standing goals of operating as an environmentally and socially responsible educational institution. In its press release, the City of Lohja also noted that the certification strongly supports the city’s strategic objectives by promoting environmental awareness and responsibility among local residents and students.
To coordinate the certification process and the institution’s sustainability work, Hiiden Opisto established a sustainable development working group at the beginning of 2023. The group is responsible for initiating and embedding goal-oriented sustainability practices, identifying staff training needs related to responsibility, organising training, and communicating sustainability topics. On the institute’s website, environmental work is presented under a “Sustainability” section, which outlines its sustainability principles and includes blog posts on the topic.
Applying for the OKKA Certification
To apply for the certificate, institutions providing basic education in the arts must complete a comprehensive self-assessment, prepare a development plan, and undergo an external audit. The self-assessment is based on indicators for a sustainable future, covering teaching, organisational culture, and leadership. The certificate is maintained through annual self-assessments and a renewal audit every three years. Applying for certification from the OKKA Foundation is free of charge. However, applicant organisations must allocate internal staff resources and cover the costs of the external audit.
Municipal or Municipally Supported Art Schools with OKKA Certification
Hiiden Opisto (Lohja), Espoo Theatre and Circus School ESKO, Espoo School of Visual Arts, Hurja Piruetti – Western Uusimaa Dance Institute, Nurmijärvi Institute, Vanajavesi Institute (Hämeenlinna, Janakkala, Hattula), Pirkan Institute (Nokia, Pirkkala, Lempäälä, Vesilahti). Vakka-Suomi Adult Education Centre (Laitila, Uusikaupunki, Pyhäranta, Taivassalo, Kustavi, and Vehmaa), Sasky Petäjä-opisto (a joint municipal education consortium of 13 municipalities).
Resourcing and Developing Environmental Expertise
Various Libraries • Eco-Support Staff and Staff Engagement
Many libraries have designated eco-support persons or eco-teams. For example, Pieksämäki Library has one designated eco-support person, while Kerava City Library has two, responsible for reporting and preparing annual action plans for the Central Uusimaa Environmental Centre (Keski-Uudenmaan Ympäristökeskus). In the City of Seinäjoki, libraries have their own eco-team and participate in the city’s sustainable development team. At Turku City Library, staff are engaged in climate work by selecting an annual climate action based on staff suggestions.
Various Libraries • Developing and Maintaining Staff Expertise
Libraries have developed various practices to support staff environmental competence. At Kerava City Library, for example, new employees are introduced to the library’s eco-practices through short “eco-briefings.” Remote meetings are also used to share updates on recycling practices and to train eco-support staff. Waste sorting instructions from the waste management company Kiertokapula are available in staff break rooms. In Seinäjoki, libraries organise eco-themed wellbeing days and environmental training sessions.
Various Municipalities • Developing and Maintaining Staff Expertise
Municipal cultural services use various methods—such as lectures, networks, and development projects—to support staff environmental competence. For example, in Isojoki, library and cultural services regularly update staff knowledge on environmental issues. In Kokkola, cultural services offer climate-related training for staff.
Various Art and Cultural Institutions • Staff Training
Raasepori Museum and Chappe have established a working group focused on staff training, knowledge sharing, and promoting best practices, with the aim of becoming leaders in climate action within the cultural sector. The motivated team includes, for example, environmental educators. At the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and Turku Concert Hall, senior management has received training, an environmental working group has been established, and responsibilities for environmental work have been assigned.
Vantaa Children’s Cultural Centres • “Eco Corner”
At Vantaa’s children’s cultural centres, the agenda for team meetings now regularly includes a section titled Sustainable Development and Eco Matters / Eco Corner. This space allows staff to raise and reflect on environmentally responsible practices. Staff can also prepare short presentations on environmental themes for the Eco Corner.
Environmental Management Development Projects
Various Libraries • Sustainable Development in Libraries of Southwest Finland
The Sustainable Development in Libraries of Southwest Finland (Kestävä kehitys Lounais-Suomen kirjastoissa) project aimed to promote services and operational models that support sustainability in libraries. As part of the project, a regional roadmap for sustainable development was created, outlining shared goals and priorities for libraries in the region, as well as individual commitments and actions by each library. The project also produced a communications toolkit and event templates. It was carried out in 2024 in collaboration with the libraries of Kemiönsaari, Marttila, Pori, Pöytyä, Taivassalo, and Turku, and funded by the Regional State Administrative Agency of Southwest Finland.
Various Libraries • Libraries’ Carbon Footprint
The Making Public Libraries’ Environmental Work Visible and Impactful (Yleisten kirjastojen ympäristötyö näkyväksi ja teräväksi) project, led by Helsinki City Library in 2023, included carbon footprint calculations and handprint assessments for public libraries. A total of 13 libraries and 3 mobile libraries participated. Based on individual library calculations, the project estimated the national carbon footprint of Finnish libraries and calculated average footprints for small, medium, and large libraries. The handprint assessment defined indicators to support communication about libraries’ positive environmental impact. Partner libraries included the city libraries of Kuopio, Lahti, Rovaniemi, Turku, and Vaasa.
Various Museums • Collaborative Development of Environmental Work
Thirteen professional museums in Southwest Finland participated in the Climate Commitment of Museums in Southwest Finland (Varsinais-Suomen museoiden ilmastolupaus) project, coordinated by Turku Museum Centre in 2022–2023. The project focused on developing museum operations from the perspective of ecological sustainability and identifying ways to reduce climate and environmental impacts. Each museum also implemented at least one action aimed at reducing its climate burden or creating a positive environmental impact. A key element of the project was developing networked collaboration and shared expertise through joint training sessions, workshops, shared procurement, and communications. The first training session addressed solar energy solutions. The project was funded by the Finnish Heritage Agency.
Various Art Schools • Ecosocial Pedagogy
The Sustainable Basic Education in the Arts (Kestävää taiteen perusopetusta, eArt) project focuses on developing pedagogical approaches in art education institutions. It explores, for example, ecosocial art pedagogy and updates the skills of teaching staff through practical applications. The project is coordinated by Nurmijärvi Institute and includes the institutes of Tuusula, Kerava, Järvenpää, and Mäntsälä Adult Education Centre. It is funded by the Finnish National Agency for Education for the years 2024–2025.
Grants and Partnerships
City Events Espoo • EcoCompass Discount on Land Use Fees
Events held in Espoo must take environmental responsibility and sustainability into account in their production. As an incentive, the City of Espoo offers a 30% discount on land use fees for events that have adopted the EcoCompass environmental management system and certification.
Various Municipalities • Responsibility as a Partnership Criterion
Several municipalities in Finland have introduced sustainability criteria for cultural and event partnerships. In Espoo, for example, partnership criteria include alignment with the city’s strategic vision (Espoo-tarina) and adherence to the city’s ethical values. The partnership application form requires a sustainability plan, which must describe how sustainable development is addressed in the event and include any relevant sustainability programmes or certifications. In Porvoo, the vitality sector’s partnerships—including those in culture and basic art education—must support the city’s climate goals. In Rautjärvi, cultural grants are being updated into partnership agreements, which may in the future include environmental considerations, such as providing bicycle parking at events.
Vantaa Children’s Cultural Centres • Recognising EcoCompass Efforts
Vantaa’s children’s cultural centres encourage their partners to operate in line with the EcoCompass certification. Partners are recognised for their environmental efforts, for example through features on social media.
Ecological Sustainability as a Criterion in Cultural Grants
Municipalities award cultural grants as part of implementing the Finnish Local Government Act on Cultural Activities (Finlex 166/2019). These grants aim to strengthen and diversify the local arts and cultural offering. They can support, for example, professional arts and cultural services, basic education in the arts, the work of local professional artists, neighbourhood and heritage associations, arts and cultural organisations, and collaboration between different actors.
In recent years, ecological sustainability criteria have increasingly been included in the shared principles of cultural grant schemes. These criteria support the implementation of both the Cultural Activities Act and municipalities’ environmental goals. Below are examples of how ecological sustainability is addressed in the grant principles of three cities in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region:
City of Espoo: Sustainable Development
Espoo’s cultural grant principles state that all city-supported cultural activities must be sustainable. In terms of ecological sustainability, grant recipients are expected to commit to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ensure the wellbeing and fair treatment of all living beings. The evaluation criteria consider how ecological, social, and economic sustainability are addressed in line with the city’s policies.
City of Järvenpää: Environment and Sustainability
Järvenpää’s criteria for operational and project grants emphasise alignment with the city strategy and shared grant principles. The criteria particularly reflect the strategy’s focus areas: Green Urban Life and Helping in Time. Sustainability criteria include encouraging sustainable transport, minimising waste, recycling, sustainable use of materials and supplies, and other environmental considerations. While not all criteria must be met, grants are only awarded to activities that align with at least one of the city’s strategic goals.
City of Porvoo: A City of Climate Action
Porvoo’s unified criteria for grants and subsidies reflect the city’s four strategic goals, with A City of Climate Action being particularly relevant to ecological sustainability. In line with the strategy, supported activities are expected to contribute to Porvoo’s climate targets. Not all applications must meet every strategic goal, but applications are compared to ensure that the overall portfolio of supported activities advances the city’s strategic objectives as effectively as possible.
Examples from Elsewhere in Finland
Environmental and sustainable development considerations in cultural grants are not limited to the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region. For example, in Isojoki, grants support both new productions and revivals. In Pietarsaari, priority is given to projects and organisations that highlight sustainability or ecological themes in their applications. In Kajaani, sustainability is one of the criteria for event, project, and operational grants.
Municipal Cultural Services
In Finland, municipal cultural services refer to activities through which a municipality promotes the creation, participation, accessibility, and use of culture and the arts. This includes arts and cultural education as well as the preservation of cultural heritage.
Environmental Work
An organisation’s goal-oriented and systematic efforts to achieve ecological sustainability. Environmental work may include actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or biodiversity loss.