On 17 April 2026, the National Institute of Culture (NIK), in cooperation with the Association of Cultural Centres (AKCE), will organise a professional workshop on environmental sustainability in culture in Brno. The workshop will take place as part of the programme of the AKCE national meeting. Representatives of cultural centres will have the opportunity to share their experiences and learn about the basic principles and approaches to implementing environmental measures in practice.
The workshop will be the first public activity of the GreenCult project, supported by the Erasmus+ programme. The project is being implemented in cooperation with the organisation Motovila (Slovenia) and the networks of cultural centres KUDUS (Slovenia) and AKCE (Czech Republic).
Sustainability as an Operational Discipline
In his presentation, Viktor Třebický (CI3) will place the topic in the broader context of climate change and introduce a practical, non-ideological approach to sustainability. Drawing on data on rising CO₂ concentrations and global temperatures, he will demonstrate that political debates about climate do not change the physical reality facing cultural institutions: their buildings consume energy, and energy costs money.
“Sustainability for me is not a belief or ideology. It is an operational discipline — and often the most cost-effective path to a more resilient institution and satisfied visitors.”
— Viktor Třebický, CI3
The presentation will focus on where real impact originates. Buildings in the EU consume approximately 40% of all energy, while 75% of the building stock has poor energy performance. Cultural centres face specific challenges: irregular operations, large halls and one-off energy-intensive events. Key areas for environmental action will include energy management and HVAC systems, lighting, everyday operations and event management.
Třebický will also distinguish between measures that deliver genuine impact and those that are often overestimated. Organisations frequently focus on waste sorting while neglecting heating, even though the environmental and economic priority should be the reverse. Practical first steps will include adjusting temperature settings and operating schedules, switching to LED lighting, and monitoring energy consumption by month, zone and individual event. Czech examples — the National Theatre in Prague and the Prague Congress Centre — will demonstrate that substantial savings are achievable in the cultural sector.
Sustainable Events: Lessons from the Film Industry
Miroslav Vlček (Platform for Sustainable Audiovisual Production – PUAV) will also share his experience. Using examples from the Czech film industry, he will demonstrate how sustainability principles can be applied to the organisation of cultural events of all kinds. Participants will be introduced to the work of PUAV, which has been operating since 2024 and whose members include Czech Television, FAMU and major commercial broadcasters. The platform has developed 13 binding principles of sustainable film production, covering energy supply, transport, catering, waste management and reporting.
Vlček will focus on one of the most significant measures for outdoor or location-based events: replacing diesel generators with grid electricity connections. He will explain why organisers should seek a grid connection whenever circumstances allow and will present both the environmental and economic benefits of this approach. Through a practical example, he will demonstrate the potential reductions in emissions and operating costs.
The presentation will also address the use of carbon calculators as decision-making tools rather than communication instruments and will highlight the risks of greenwashing. Participants will learn why sustainability needs to be planned from the outset rather than improvised on-site. Catering requirements, waste management plans, transport arrangements and power connections are all determined during the preparation phase. The importance of appointing a clearly designated person responsible for sustainability within each organisation or event will also be emphasised.
Speakers
RNDr. Viktor Třebický, Ph.D.
CI3 — Centre for Environment and Sustainability
Mgr. BcA. Miroslav Vlček, Ph.D.
Platform for Sustainable Audiovisual Production (PUAV); Ostrava University
more information about Greening Cultural Organizations (GreenCult) project
