Municipalities as promoters of creative sustainability
The role of municipalities and regions in supporting and accelerating the ecological sustainability transition in creative industries is significant. They create a platform for action on their area, enabling but also setting criteria.
In Finland, municipalities play a crucial role in enabling balanced and sustainable development in society, as defined in the first section of the Municipalities Act. Municipalities build the environment, the shared neighbourhood, on which the lives and everyday lives of their residents are based. Municipalities significantly influence how convenient and sustainable everyday life can be. The urban fabric and the accompanying transport system create a fairly permanent foundation for urban emissions, biodiversity, and accessibility to local nature.
Through land use decisions, the municipality determines the purposes of land areas and the utilization of natural resources and nature areas. With building regulations and plot allocation conditions, the municipality regulates the sustainability of new construction. Municipal water and waste management services take care of the circulation of material flows. Municipalities are largely responsible for the urban fabric and its development. For its part, the municipality determines the approaches and conditions for sustainable action for the actors in its area, as well as the direction, preconditions and, thereby, the drive of the local culture of action.
The Association of Finnish Cities and Municipalities’s Direction of Education 2023 program highlights the climate crisis as a phenomenon that significantly affects municipal educational services. Educational services provide people with information and options for making sustainable choices. With sustainable everyday solutions, every resident can influence the climate crisis both locally and globally. The Municipal Association helps municipalities find solutions that take into account local conditions and needs, enabling educational services to be organized and produced sustainably.
In Finland, municipalities have a legally defined role in providing educational and cultural services, and they are an important channel for building an ecologically sustainable content and quality of life. The perception of the world and the attitude towards nature and the environment are partly shaped by the interaction of these factors. The themes raised by education, training, youth and cultural services influence the mindset and motivation of residents.
A high-quality, diverse and stimulating environment with good educational and recreational opportunities provides the basis for sustainable well-being and a good life. Sustainable, environmentally aware behaviour and lifestyles are often learned from an early age: kindergartens, early childhood education and school have a significant impact.
The Act on Cultural Activities in Local Government Guides Municipal Cultural Work in Finland
Municipal cultural activities and the related sustainability work are guided by the Act on Cultural Activities in Local Government, the Public Libraries Act, and the Climate Act with its national goals. The Cultural Activities Act obliges municipalities to provide cultural services according to their resources and local conditions. Municipalities provide cultural services both independently and by subsidising other actors.
The implementation of the goals of the Act on Cultural Activities in Local Government is based on sustainable development, which means comprehensive consideration of social, economic, and ecological sustainability. According to the Act, the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, together with other authorities, creates the conditions for municipalities to do this. The law also enables cooperation between different sectors of the municipality and with other municipalities.
Municipal cultural services may include, for example:
- Libraries: The municipality’s general library services and the municipality’s share of general library services organised with other municipalities or in other ways.
- Art and Cultural Institutions: Professional museums, theatres, or orchestras that are municipal or receive annual subsidies from the municipality.
- Cultural Houses and Centers: The municipality’s own administrative unit or a unit receiving annual subsidies from the municipality, which has its own cultural activities, such as cultural houses, concert and congress halls, children’s cultural centres, and regional centres for film, photography, and dance.
- Basic Art Education and Art Schools: Music and dance institutes, visual arts and crafts schools, theatre and circus schools, and literary and architecture schools organised by the municipality or private actors receiving municipal subsidies.
- General Cultural Activities: The main areas of general cultural activity are the production and organisation of cultural events, the distribution of grants and the management of cultural activities.
Regions Play an Important Role in Sustainability Work
The climate and cultural work of regional councils in Finland is based on the Regional Development Act. The role of regional councils in advancing sustainability is wide-ranging. The key document for regional development is the regional programme, which guides the development of the region in the long term. Additionally, most councils have prepared a regional climate roadmap. Alongside these, regional planning and transport system work, based on the Land Use and Building Act, are also linked to sustainability work. These core products of the councils’ activities are the most important tools for sustainable regional development.
The regional associations are joint municipal authorities. Supporting the work of the municipalities and strengthening cooperation, for example in the thematic areas agreed in the regional programme, play a key role in the activities of the councils. Councils have extensive, established, and multidisciplinary networks of actors, through which stakeholders can be engaged in sustainability work. Supporting inter-municipal cooperation and sharing best practice between municipalities are inherent to their work. Regions also have an important role in allocating various regional development funds and programme funds, which can support sustainability work.
The Regional Development Act also includes the goal of promoting culture as part of regional strategic work, as well as regional identity and residents’ participation in regional development. This is another opportunity to strengthen sustainability in the field of culture.
Municipal Measures to Promote Sustainable Transition in the Creative Sectors
This section presents ten key themes for municipalities and municipal cultural services to improve the sustainability of the creative sectors, with examples and suggestions for action. The basis for the measures is the Finnish legislation concerning municipal cultural services, aligned with the goals of municipal climate work in Finland. The action proposals are based on the action plan Fostering sustainability – Action plan for ecological transition in cultural and creative sectors and the examples from the report Kuntien kulttuuripalveluiden ympäristötyön hyvät käytännöt (Good practices in the environmental work of municipalities’ cultural services).
1. Consider the Availability and Accessibility of Culture and Art, and Sustainable Facilities
- Minimise transport emissions by ensuring accessibility and accessibility to culture and the arts, for example by organising remote access and public transport, providing information on public transport connections and walking and cycling opportunities, and ensuring that facilities such as cycle parking are available.
- Bring art and events into school days and public events, and organise shared transport for cultural trips.
- Ensure the sustainability of municipal facilities in cooperation with facility and property services, for example, through choices of heating systems, optimisation of indoor temperatures, and enhancing utilisation rates.
Responsible parties in the municipality: cultural services, facility and property services, transport experts, communication.
Indicators: number of attendees at events, energy efficiency of facilities and distribution of utilisation rates, proportion of events and activities advancing sustainability in the municipality’s event production.
Good practices
Events accessible by public transport, events nearby
The cultural services of the municipality of Salo, in Finland, strive to organise events when public transport is available. Additionally, some productions are carried out as local cultural services, bringing content to people instead of requiring travel.
Renewable energy solutions in new buildings
Siuntio Municipal Library, Finland, is located in the Sivistyskampus Siuntion sydän, completed in 2022. Energy efficiency and environmental friendliness have been taken into account in the building, for example in the choice of IV machines, the automation of technical systems and the heating system. The building is heated by geothermal heating and generates around 30% of the electricity it consumes from solar panels.
2. Create Conditions for Professional Creative Work and Activities
- Share information about the environmental impacts of materials used in procurement and work phases, their recyclability, shareability, and repairability, and encourage sustainable choices.
- Promote the accessibility of facilities through public transport, walking, or cycling.
- Setting and implementing sustainability principles for cultural subsidies and selection criteria.
- Communicate identified sector-specific measures for creative sectors to actors working in the municipality.
Responsible parties in the municipality: cultural services, facility and property services, transport experts, communication.
Indicators: energy efficiency of facilities, number of sustainability criteria in public grants.
Good practices
Tools for More Sustainable Art Procurement
The Turun julkisen taiteen ohjelma (Turku Public Art Programme) (2022) outlines the principles and procurement methods for public art in the city of Turku. The Turku Museum Centre will define more concretely in the project Kohti ekologisesti kestävämpää julkista taidetta (Towards Ecologically Sustainable Public Art) (2024–2025) what the ecological sustainability criteria mean in art productions and at what stage of the art commissioning process they can be best considered. The project will produce information and practical tools to help public art commissioners make more sustainable art procurements. The aim is also to strengthen the ecological sustainability expertise of professional artists. The project, funded by the Finnish Heritage Agency, is coordinated by the Turku Museum Centre.
Walking, Cycling, and Public Transport on the Way to School
When distances are reasonable and public transport convenient, students and staff of art schools can arrive on foot, by bike, or by public transport. For example, the majority of students in the basic art education at Vekarateatteri in Kerava, Finland, arrive on foot or by bike. There is space for bikes in the yard, and a separate path has been made on the sloping plot for taking bikes to the front yard. The staff of the Kerava Dance Institute mainly travel by bike and public transport. The public transport commutes of part-time teachers are financially supported.
3. Increase Awareness of Sustainability Perspectives in Promoting Cultural and Artistic Hobbies and Related Civic Activities.
- Organise targeted sustainability education for decision-makers, professional actors in the field, hobbyists, local media, and other groups influencing creative activities.
- Increase opportunities for active participation by residents and community-driven activities to promote ecological sustainability.
- Consider sustainability perspectives by producing guidelines for hobby activities’ themes and material choices, increasing information about the ecological sustainability of materials in use, and encouraging sustainable choices.
- Incorporate ecological sustainability perspectives in the planning of hobby activities, supporting, for example, the ability of children and young people to walk, cycle, and use public transport to cultural hobbies.
- Support outdoor activities for all ages, geocaching, and exploring archaeological sites.
- Ensure the sustainability and accessibility of facilities in use.
Responsible parties in the municipality: cultural and leisure services, education, facility and property services, transport experts, communication.
Indicators: number of participants in cultural and hobby activities, energy efficiency of facilities, utilisation rate.
Good practices
Activism Diploma
The Aktivismidiplomi (Activism Diploma) is an environmental challenge concept used by libraries in Finland. The diploma can be utilised in environmental education and democracy work aimed at library customers. It includes ten challenges that can be completed in any order and manner that suits the individual. For example, the diploma challenges participants to read or listen to an environmental-themed fiction or non-fiction book, enjoy the forest, and ask a Member of Parliament or municipal councillor what they plan to do to prevent biodiversity loss. The diploma was developed in collaboration with Helmet library cooperation in spring 2023.
Shared Cultural Space
Kulttuuritila Näkkäri, a premise previously converted into a multifunctional space for live art and culture, serves the students of the Salo Community College’s basic art education and the children’s culture events of the city’s general cultural services. The auditorium, which has been converted into a shared use space, was previously unoccupied. Now the occupancy rate has increased considerably and there are mainly free periods at weekends. The space is also available free of charge to associations in Salo, with a fee for external organisations and companies. Näkkäri is located in the city of Salo, Finland.
4. Integrate Sustainability Perspectives into Art and Cultural Education
- Incorporate ecological sustainability into the art and cultural education plan in collaboration with the education sector and share responsibility for implementing the measures.
- Consider sustainability perspectives in planning and content production.
- Share information about the climate and environmental impacts of materials and encourage sustainable, circular economy choices.
- Supporting children and youth’s understanding of the environment through art education. Enable young people to play an active role in solving environmental challenges.
- Update arts and cultural education practices to be more ecological.
- Implement cross-cutting collaboration models and combine different themes, such as art and transport.
Responsible parties in the municipality: cultural and educational services, education sector.
Indicators: report on the ecological sustainability goals and measures of art and cultural education plans, the share of sustainability content in the municipality’s art and cultural education methods.
Good practices
Intertwined Worlds
The artworks in the Yhteen kietoutuneet maailmat (Intertwined Worlds) exhibition at the Vantaa Art Museum Artsi, Finland, explore nature through themes of merging, wonder, disappearance, and adventure. The exhibition’s theme is how to cherish nature within us and around us. The artists in the exhibition were Satu Autero, Emma Helle, IC-98, Rebecca Louise Law, and Kari Vehosalo. Law’s site-specific work was created in collaboration with Artsi’s local communities, such as the students of Uomarinne School. The work consisted of plants and flowers collected by participants and dried by the museum, as well as parts from the artist’s plant material collection. The creation of the work also included a workshop. The exhibition was open from 2024 to 2025.
Sustainable Development in Cultural Education
The skills and learning of a conscious and responsible lifestyle of fifth and sixth-grade students in the city of Salo, Finland, are supported by the cultural education plan Nappula. Sustainable development, the environment, and adopting a sustainable lifestyle are themes aimed at these age groups. The themes for ninth graders are environmental competence and cooperation. In the city of Vantaa, the cultural education plan is implemented, for example, in children’s cultural services. The programme has included sustainable development workshops for school groups organised in collaboration with the Pääkaupunkiseudun Kierrätyskeskus, a recycling center operating in the Helsinki Metropolitan area.
5. Consider Sustainability Perspectives in the Maintenance of Cultural Heritage
- The Finnish Government’s policy decision on the cultural heritage strategy recognises the themes of sustainable development comprehensively, and they are included in the strategy’s goals.
- Promote a sustainable lifestyle in collaboration with cultural heritage actors by utilising research data in your own activities and conveying cultural heritage knowledge and skills.
- For the building stock, consider sustainable construction methods and materials, as well as the circular economy in renovation and restoration.
- Identify ways to increase the utilisation rate of facilities.
- Seek local solutions to extend the lifespan of the building stock through planning and renovation funding, supplementing city regulations if necessary.
- Ensure more sustainable energy use solutions in cultural heritage sites while respecting existing structures.
- Preserve natural heritage sites with sustainable practices and strengthen the management of traditional biotopes and other cultural landscapes. Highlight their importance in promoting well-being.
- Strengthen the protection of archaeological cultural heritage by developing sustainable management and climate resilience of sites, and ensure the preservation of archaeological cultural heritage for future generations through recording and documentation.
Responsible parties in the municipality: cultural services, facility and property services, and regional responsible museums.
Indicators: energy efficiency and utilisation rate of facilities, number and area of traditional biotopes and cultural landscapes.
Good practices
Space for Biodiversity and Native Species
The mowing interval of the yard of the local museum managed by the cultural services of the municipality of Vieremä, Finland, has been reduced. In the area surrounding the yard, local species are allowed to grow freely. The green planning of the Kasarmikangas museum area in the municipality of Rautjärvi includes the maintenance of the green landscape, which in some parts also means maintaining and increasing biodiversity.
In the Same Boat
The Lohja Museum, Finland, carried out a project in 2023–2024 to map the relationship of residents, communities, and businesses in the Lohja area to nearby water bodies and the significance of the area’s lakes to local identity. The project also investigated how locals currently perceive the impacts of the climate crisis and biodiversity loss on lake nature. Data was collected through interviews and observations. Additionally, a group of local volunteers documented their daily lives by the lakes in the Lohja area with photos and texts. The project In the same Boat (Samassa veneessä) was funded by the Finnish Heritage Agency.
6. Support Ecological Sustainability in Promoting Culture and Art as Part of Residents’ Well-being, Health, Inclusion, and Community, as well as Local and Regional Vitality
- Identify and communicate lifestyles and practices that enhance ecological sustainability and well-being in communities and residents’ daily lives, for example, by incorporating environmental art into urban fabric and encouraging outdoor activities.
- Municipalities can consider allocating their land to the creative sector to promote biodiversity, for example by allowing the creation of biodiverse habitats or meadows.
Responsible parties in the municipality: cultural services, environmental services, economic services.
Indicators: popularity of the municipality or region, strengthening of biodiversity.
Good practices
Making Museum Outdoor Areas More Welcoming
The Ihan pihalla! project, implemented in 2021–2022, increased the use and cosiness of the outdoor areas of two Finnish museums, the Lohja Museum and the Johannes Lohilampi Museum. During the project, new customer-oriented ways to explore cultural heritage were added to the museums’ activities, cultural environment awareness was improved, and leisure opportunities were created in the museums’ outdoor areas. The programme included raised bed gardens, a nature evening with a programme, an apple tree pruning course, bird guidance, an environmental art exhibition, and a herb walk. Six beehives were also established in the museum areas, and the honey produced is sold in the Lohja Museum shop.
Lively Espoo
In the Eloisa Espoo (Lively Espoo) project, measures to restore and establish meadows, plant trees, and carry out forest projects with resident participation are being implemented in the city of Espoo, Finland, in 2024–2025. The activities also include experiential environmental events, art, nature actions, and information. As part of the project, several pilots were carried out in 2024, such as open events and volunteer work, tree planting, and insect hotels. Additionally, the use of modular seating areas in urban spaces was tested, and invasive species were controlled using the Crowdsorsa app.
7. Sustainability in Cultural Interaction and International Activities
- Favour sustainable modes of transport in domestic and international cooperation. Consider whether travel is truly necessary, and prefer remote participation or travelling by land instead of flying.
- Determine the nature and frequency of face-to-face events needed to achieve the objectives set in the partnerships.
- Consider sustainability aspects when granting mobility subsidies. Set sustainability criteria for mobility subsidies in project activities, taking into account both domestic and international mobility grants.
- Incorporate sustainable development goals into content planning and actively communicate them to international partners.
Responsible parties in the municipality: cultural services, communication.
Indicators: sustainability criteria for partnerships and mobility subsidies have been set, emission reductions.
Good practices
Sustainable Mobility in Orchestras
In Finland, Many orchestra musicians and staff choose more sustainable ways to travel. The Seinäjoki City Orchestra uses trains instead of buses for long journeys. Oulu Symphony has reduced air travel and prefers train travel. Additionally, the diesel leasing car used by the orchestra is being replaced with a hybrid car. In Vaasa, soloists, conductors, and gig workers arrive in the city by public transport unless they have heavy instruments to transport. The Vaasa City Orchestra can also reserve a fully electric car intended for city work use for travel within the Ostrobothnia region if needed. Tampere Philharmonia reimburses cycling and public transport costs.
Ecological Sustainability as a Partnership Criterion
Many municipalities in Finland have set sustainability criteria for event and cultural partnerships. For example, in the city of Espoo, one of the criteria for event partnerships is adherence to the city’s ethical values. The sustainability plan required in the partnership cooperation application asks how sustainable development is considered in the event and whether the event organiser has a sustainability programme or certification. In the city of Porvoo, partnerships in, for example, basic art education, are required to support the achievement of Porvoo’s climate goals.
8. Support a Climate- and Nature-Friendly and Resource-Wise Value System through Culture, Articulate and Narrate it while Respecting Artistic Freedom
- Highlight the understanding and expertise of municipal cultural actors and artists in sustainability issues.
- Encourage the comprehensive consideration of sustainability perspectives in the methods and planning of art creation.
- Incorporate sustainability perspectives into the criteria for funding and support.
- Emphasise the importance of a positive environmental handprint in communication.
Responsible parties in the municipality: cultural services, environmental services, communication.
Indicators: recognitions, allocation of funding.
Good practices
Artificial Primeval Forest
In the summer of 2023, an artificial primeval forest was constructed in the riverside area of the city of Porvoo. The durable nature created by visual artist Pia Sirén‘s work consisted of scaffolding, tarpaulins, ropes, and concrete. The work created a contrast between the built environment and nature on the site ,and prompted reflection on what a forest looks like and where primeval forests still exist. The work was commissioned by the cultural services of the city of Porvoo, with Kataja Event as a partner. The temporary work was implemented as part of the Porvoon Länsirannan taideohjelmaa (Porvoo West Bank Art Programme).
Ecological Sustainability as a Criterion for Cultural Grants
An increasing number of municipalities in Finland have set ecological sustainability criteria for cultural grants. For example, in the municipality of Isojoki, grants support not only new productions but also replays of existing productions, and in the municipality of Pietarsaari, grants particularly consider actors who highlight sustainable development or ecological aspects in their applications. In the city of Kajaani, one of the criteria for event, project, and operational grants is the promotion of sustainable development.
9. Promote Sustainability in Cultural Activities and Event Production, as well as in Sector’s Products and Services
- Compile guidelines and set sustainability criteria for the planning of content and production of events and activities.
- Consider sustainability perspectives in planning regarding transport, energy, catering, recycling, and the structures of event venues.
- Minimise the emissions from event catering by emphasising planetary, plant-based food options and reducing waste.
- Use sustainable serving dishes and ensure recycling.
- Ensure easy accessibility and sustainable modes of transport in event production to minimise transport emissions.
- Organise events in locations with inherently good public transport connections or arrange travelling events. Actively provide information on public transport connections and link public transport tickets to the ticket sales of larger events.
- Enable remote participation if necessary.
- Aim for the ecological and energy efficiency of event venues.
- Communicate the environmental impacts of the event and openly report corrective measures.
- Calculate and report the emissions of events.
Responsible parties in the municipality: cultural and leisure services, environmental services, communication.
Indicators: availability of guidelines for organising ecologically sustainable events, sustainability criteria for events and activities have been set, carbon footprint of the event.
Good practices
Preference for Vegetarian and Vegan Options
Many municipalities’ cultural services in Finland favour vegetarian and vegan options in their food offerings. For example, in the city of Salo, catering always includes a vegetarian option. In the city of Kajaani, some cultural services favour vegetarian and vegan options. In the city of Espoo, favouring vegetarian and vegan foods in catering is a city-level goal. At the Lempimusaa event organised by the municipality of Lempäälä in summer 2024, only vegetarian food was offered.
Event Carbon Footprint Calculator and Environmental Sustainability
The city of Helsinki, Finland, provides event organisers with information on environmental sustainability and a carbon footprint calculator that can be used to organise more ecologically sustainable events. The website contains sustainability information related to event planning, venues, procurement, food and drink, noise, and waste management. The calculator helps identify the main sources of emissions from events and effectively target emission reduction measures.
10. Ensure Resources and Invest in Staff Sustainability Expertise
- Provide sustainability training for cultural services employees and appoint a person in response to include goal-oriented and collaborative sustainability work.
- Foster cooperation between municipalities, the regional council and the cultural sector to agree on possible coordination tasks to promote sustainability through broad cooperation.
- Expand and develop library activities as platforms for sharing and lending everyday items according to municipal resources.
- Communicate the goals, phases, and achievements of the work, including small ones.
- Budget transition funding for training and skills development.
- Consider the practices of the SDG-analyysiprosessin työkirja (SDG analysis process workbook) published by the Association of Finnish Cities and Municipalities in the planning of various projects, programmes, and cultural activities.
Responsible parties in the municipality: cultural services, education sector, administration.
Indicators: number of staff members responsible for sustainability work, number and budget of staff sustainability training sessions, number of items and loans in libraries, communication of ecological sustainability work has been carried out.
Good practices
Museum’s Environmental Promise
The sustainability work of the Gallen-Kallela Museum in the city of Espoo, Finland, is guided by an environmental promise. The environmental promise includes the museum’s values and measures such as phasing out fossil energy use for heating in the coming years, switching to domestically produced ecological electricity, improving the energy efficiency of historical buildings, and renovating the area to withstand visitor consumption. In accordance with the environmental promise, the museum highlights environmental awareness in its communication and shares knowledge of nature-saving methods through exhibitions and public engagement.
Libraries as Promoters of the Sharing Economy
The measures in the Vantaan resurssiviisauden tiekartta (Vantaa Roadmap to Resource Wisdom) aim for libraries to act as pioneers of the sharing economy. In 2022, a responsibility over loanable items was granted to a specific staff member in the city of Vantaa’s libraries, and the share of item loans in the material budget was increased. The number of loanable items has since grown significantly: at the beginning of 2023, the selection included 38 different items for home loan, and a year later, there were already 654.
Measures by Regional Councils in Cooperation with Municipalities and Cultural Sector Actors
- Set the promotion of sustainability in the creative sector as a goal in regional development documents, such as the regional programme, sustainability roadmap, or cultural strategy.
- Develop common goals and rules with municipalities, municipal cultural services, and creative sectors to promote sustainability.
- Integrate sustainability criteria into the funding allocated to the cultural sector.
- Support the self-initiated sustainability transition of cultural actors by developing and standardising platforms, operating models, and means of skills development, such as training, materials, and networks.
- Communicate the goals and actions of the sustainability transition of cultural actors and compile best practices.