Arts & Culture Carbon Literacy Training

Creative leaders! Learn the most impactful ways to tackle climate change through your creative practice or cultural organisation… Get certified as Carbon Literate, a certification recognised by the United Nations!

What is Carbon Literacy Training?

Carbon Literacy Training equips learners with the knowledge, skills, motivation and confidence to embed positive climate action in your work and personal lives. Our course is catered to South East England’s creative community, helping learners to measurably reduce the carbon cost of creative projects and creating a cultural shift towards climate justice and a regenerative future.

Is this course right for me?

Our course has been designed for staff and volunteers from cultural organisations and venues, independent creatives, freelancers, writers, performers and artists of all kinds.

Who are we?

Green Arts Oxfordshire Network (GAON) exists to unite Oxfordshire’s artists and cultural organisations in their work to tackle the climate & ecological emergency. We believe that a better future is possible, and that we as cultural leaders need to create the change we want to see in the world.

What’s the format of Carbon Literacy Training?

Our training is a full day of learning made up of 3 parts:

Part 1: Online e-learning Platform

This section increases your understanding of the science behind climate change, and the global and local impacts. It is self-directed, including videos and quizzes, and is completed online in your own time ahead of part 2. We expect this to take around 2 – 3 hours.

Part 2: Online Training Session with a Carbon Literacy Trainer

This section outlines what we need to do as a society to reduce carbon emissions, introducing national plans, local initiatives and high impact actions that you can take, in the context of the creative sector. This is an interactive session including group discussions and opportunities to ask questions. The session will last 3.5 – 4 hours inclusive of a 30-minute break.

Part 3: Participant Details Forms

The final part of the training involves you developing an action pledge both as an individual and with a wider group, in order to reduce carbon emissions. This section should take around 1 hour to complete.

Accessibility

If you have any access requirements, please let us know when you book your training session. We have live transcriptions available to support learners during our training sessions. This is available to request anonymously before the session through our short pre-course questionnaire.

What’s the impact?

The sustainability consultancy firm Jacobs did a study on the effectiveness of Carbon Literacy training, and discovered that there is between a 5 – 15% carbon saving per person for those that undertake the training. A study at the University of Leeds also found that Carbon Literacy is an effective way of instigating lasting change.

Testimonials from GAON Carbon Literacy Training Participants

“The trainer was very passionate and inspirational. The training has really opened my eyes to what changes I can make as an individual and artistic director of a small charity. Thank you and please keep up the great work!”

“Thank you Green Arts Oxfordshire for providing such a thorough, well-informed, accessible training! I feel the training helped us gather more accurate info about our carbon footprint, and gave a lot of useful insights on how to reduce it. Everyone should take this course!”

“This is a very informative and helpful introduction for anyone in our times.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed the training. I learnt a lot and it helped me clarify what direction I should take next in my commitment to doing something about climate change. It left me feeling positive, which is something I rarely feel when our future can appear overwhelmingly disastrous.”

* This session may be postponed if we do not secure 15 bookings.

Acknowledgments

The development of this course was supported by Oxford City Council’s Community Impact Fund, as well as Fusion Arts, Tandem Collective, Oxford Friends of the Earth, CAG Oxfordshire and anonymous donors.

Green Arts Get-Together

Connect with Oxfordshire’s creatives to swap seeds and ideas over a free community meal as part of Great Big Green Week, the UK’s largest celebration of community action to protect nature and tackle climate change.

Event date: Wednesday 12th June, 6-8pm

Location: Fusion Arts, 95 Gloucester Green, Oxford, OX1 2BU

We’ll explore Tetiten Swarane Tandur: Hear the Seeds Sing, an exhibition that reflects on the Cowongan tradition, once commonly performed in Java, Indonesia. During drought seasons, local villagers would pray to Dewi Sri, the Goddess of rice and fertility, for rain.

Explore themes of climate justice and nature connection at this gathering of creatives, artists and activists, in collaboration with Fusion Arts, Soboman Artspace 219, and #ClimateActionOxfordshire. Bring your thoughts and seeds and anything else you would like to share, or come along to listen, experience a sense of community and connect with local creatives. We look forward to welcoming you.

Who are we?

Green Arts Oxfordshire Network (GAON) unites Oxfordshire’s artists and cultural organisations in their work to tackle the climate & ecological emergency. We believe that a better future is possible, and that we as cultural leaders need to create the change we want to see in the world.

Who is this for?

Both professional and hobbyist creatives of all kinds, (including gardeners, writers, artists, performers, curators, musicians, photographers and more) are invited to join this community gathering and exchange free-flowing ideas. You do not need to already be creating ‘green’ artwork to join the conversation!

Accessibility

This gathering will be in Fusion Arts space at 95 Gloucester Green. The space is on the ground floor with step free access, and an accessible toilet on the same floor.

Getting there

We’ve put together some information that we hope will help you to reduce emissions and frustrations when visiting museums, theatres and arts venues in Oxford city centre, perhaps even make your journey part of the fun! Take a look at our at-a-glance guide here.

Thank You

This event is support by Oxfordshire County Council, through CAG Oxfordshire‘s Great Big Green Week Small Grants Programme as part of the #ClimateActionOxfordshire campaign.

Great Big Green Week Carbon Literacy Training for Creatives and Cultural Organisations

Get certified as Carbon Literate during Great Big Green Week, the UK’s biggest celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature!

Event date: Friday 14th June, 10am – 2pm

Location: Online via Zoom

What is Carbon Literacy Training?

Carbon Literacy Training equips learners with the knowledge, skills, motivation and confidence to embed positive climate action in your work and personal lives. Our course is catered to Oxfordshire’s creative community, helping learners to measurably reduce the carbon cost of creative projects and creating a cultural shift towards climate justice and a zero-carbon future.

Is this course right for me?

Our course has been designed for independent creatives, freelancers, artists, writers, performers, members of community groups and staff and volunteers from cultural organisations and venues.

This session has been funded by the Vale of White Horse District Council Climate Action fund, so is open to anyone based in the Vale of White Horse area in Oxfordshire.

To access this training, please join the network (for free) by signing the Green Arts Charter.

Spaces are limited. Please let us know if you can no longer attend, so that we can offer the space to someone else.

Who are we?

Green Arts Oxfordshire Network (GAON) exists to unite Oxfordshire’s artists and cultural organisations in their work to tackle the climate & ecological emergency. We believe that a better future is possible, and that we as cultural leaders need to create the change we want to see in the world.

What’s the format of Carbon Literacy Training?

Our training is a full day of learning made up of 3 parts:

Part 1: Online e-learning Platform

This section increases your understanding of the science behind climate change, and the global and local impacts. It is self-directed, including videos and quizzes, and is completed online in your own time ahead of part 2. We expect this to take around 2 – 3 hours.

Part 2: Online Training Session with a Carbon Literacy Trainer

This section outlines what we need to do as a society to reduce carbon emissions, introducing national plans, local initiatives and high impact actions that you can take, in the context of the creative sector. This is an interactive session including group discussions and opportunities to ask questions. The session will last 4 hours inclusive of a 30-minute break.

Part 3: Participant Details Forms

The final part of the training involves you developing an action pledge both as an individual and with a wider group, in order to reduce carbon emissions. This section should take around 1 hour to complete.

Accessibility

If you have any access requirements, please let us know when you book your training session. We have live transcriptions available to support learners during our training sessions. This is available to request anonymously before the session through our short pre-course questionnaire.

What’s the impact?

The sustainability consultancy firm Jacobs did a study on the effectiveness of Carbon Literacy training, and discovered that there is between a 5 – 15% carbon saving per person for those that undertake the training. A study at the University of Leeds also found that Carbon Literacy is an effective way of instigating lasting change.

Testimonials from GAON Carbon Literacy Training Participants

“The trainer was very passionate and inspirational. The training has really opened my eyes to what changes I can make as an individual and artistic director of a small charity. Thank you and please keep up the great work!”

“Thank you Green Arts Oxfordshire for providing such a thorough, well-informed, accessible training! I feel the training helped us gather more accurate info about our carbon footprint, and gave a lot of useful insights on how to reduce it. Everyone should take this course!”

“This is a very informative and helpful introduction for anyone in our times.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed the training. I learnt a lot and it helped me clarify what direction I should take next in my commitment to doing something about climate change. It left me feeling positive, which is something I rarely feel when our future can appear overwhelmingly disastrous.”

* This session may be postponed if we do not secure 15 bookings.

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge that this cohort of training has been funded by the Vale of White Horse District Council Climate Action Fund.

The development of this course was supported by Oxford City Council’s Community Impact Fund, as well as Fusion Arts, Tandem Collective, Oxford Friends of the Earth, CAG Oxfordshire and anonymous donors.

Earth Day Carbon Literacy Training for Creatives and Cultural Organisations

Get certified as Carbon Literate with South Oxfordshire’s creative community this Earth Day!

Event date: Friday 22nd April, 11am – 4pm

Location: Cornerstone Arts Centre, 25 Station Rd, Didcot OX11 7NE

What is Carbon Literacy Training?

Carbon Literacy Training equips learners with the knowledge, skills, motivation and confidence to embed positive climate action in your work and personal lives. Our course is catered to Oxfordshire’s creative community, helping learners to measurably reduce the carbon cost of creative projects and creating a cultural shift towards climate justice and a zero-carbon future.

Is this course right for me?

Our course has been designed for independent creatives, freelancers, artists, writers, performers, members of community groups and staff and volunteers from cultural organisations and venues.

This session has been funded by the South Oxfordshire District Council Councillor Community Grant Scheme, awarded by Cllr Axel Macdonald, Cllr Denise Macdonald and Cllr Mocky Khan of Didcot South.

The training is open to anyone working or based in South Oxfordshire.

To access this training, please join the network (for free) by signing the Green Arts Charter.

Spaces are limited. Please let us know if you can no longer attend, so that we can offer the space to someone else.

Who are we?

Green Arts Oxfordshire Network (GAON) exists to unite Oxfordshire’s artists and cultural organisations in their work to tackle the climate & ecological emergency. We believe that a better future is possible, and that we as cultural leaders need to create the change we want to see in the world.

What’s the format of Carbon Literacy Training?

Our training is a full day of learning made up of 3 parts:

Part 1: Online e-learning Platform

This section increases your understanding of the science behind climate change, and the global and local impacts. It is self-directed, including videos and quizzes, and is completed online in your own time ahead of part 2. We expect this to take around 2 – 3 hours.

Part 2: Training Session with a Carbon Literacy Trainer

This section outlines what we need to do as a society to reduce carbon emissions, introducing national plans, local initiatives and high impact actions that you can take, in the context of the creative sector. This is an interactive session including group discussions and opportunities to ask questions. The session will last 5 hours inclusive of a 30-minute break, with free lunch provided.

Part 3: Participant Details Forms

The final part of the training involves you developing an action pledge both as an individual and with a wider group, in order to reduce carbon emissions. This section should take around 1 hour to complete.

Accessibility

If you have any access requirements, please let us know when you book your training session.

What’s the impact?

The sustainability consultancy firm Jacobs did a study on the effectiveness of Carbon Literacy training, and discovered that there is between a 5 – 15% carbon saving per person for those that undertake the training. A study at the University of Leeds also found that Carbon Literacy is an effective way of instigating lasting change.

Testimonials from GAON Carbon Literacy Training Participants

“The trainer was very passionate and inspirational. The training has really opened my eyes to what changes I can make as an individual and artistic director of a small charity. Thank you and please keep up the great work!”

“Thank you Green Arts Oxfordshire for providing such a thorough, well-informed, accessible training! I feel the training helped us gather more accurate info about our carbon footprint, and gave a lot of useful insights on how to reduce it. Everyone should take this course!”

“This is a very informative and helpful introduction for anyone in our times.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed the training. I learnt a lot and it helped me clarify what direction I should take next in my commitment to doing something about climate change. It left me feeling positive, which is something I rarely feel when our future can appear overwhelmingly disastrous.”

* This session may be postponed if we do not secure 15 bookings.

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge that this cohort of training has been funded by South Oxfordshire District Council Councillor Community Grant Scheme, awarded by Cllr Axel Macdonald, Cllr Denise Macdonald and Cllr Mocky Khan of Didcot South.

The development of this course was supported by Oxford City Council’s Community Impact Fund, as well as Fusion Arts, Tandem Collective, Oxford Friends of the Earth, CAG Oxfordshire and anonymous donors.

Creative Nature: A Restoration Toolkit for Artists & Activists

Event date: Tuesday 9th April, 6.30pm – 9.30pm

Bringing Oxfordshire’s artists, activists, gardeners, growers, poets, potters, photographers, musicians and creatives of all kinds together for an evening of restoration and inspiration. 

In this interactive workshop with Green Arts Oxfordshire Network, we will connect to explore tools that restore, inspire and motivate us to take action.  Bring a vegan dish if you’re able to, to enjoy with the community alongside free food by Damascus Rose Kitchen.

Join us to sow and nurture the seeds of a better world… 

This workshop is hosted by Green Arts Oxfordshire Network and The Old Fire Station, in collaboration with Modern Art Oxford, Community Action Groups (CAG) Oxfordshire and The Gardening Drawing Club.

With artists…

Dr JC Niala: Writer, historian, artist and multifaceted creative with a passion for heritage and storytelling. JC Niala makes art that encourages people to connect with nature.

Helen Edwards: Artist and Psychotherapist working with ecological art, movement and integrative arts psychotherapy.

Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck: Painter, transdisciplinary artist, cultural practitioner and allotment plot holder from France now based in rural Oxfordshire. Founder ofThe Gardening Drawing Club.

Usha dapur Kar: Oxford based visual artist creating mixed media installations and paintings, to stimulate reflection and conversation about social & climate justice.

About Green Arts Oxfordshire Network (GAON): GAON unites Oxfordshire’s artists and cultural organisations in their work to tackle the climate & ecological emergency. We believe that a better future is possible, and that we as cultural leaders need to create the change we want to see in the world. 

Accessibility: This event will be in the Old Fire Station’s Theatre. Please enter the building at 40 George Street via the foyer. There is level entry into the foyer of the Old Fire Station, and step-free access to the Theatre via a lift. There is an accessible toilet on the same floor. 

Photograph by Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck