The focus is on cultural institutions. To conclude our current series of events, we are bringing together motivated people who are active in the cultural sector and are committed to resource conservation and zero waste. In doing so, we want to give impetus to interested people who work in the cultural sector themselves and are looking for inspiration and exchange and want to drive issues forward.

The impetus for more ecological sustainability in museums or other cultural institutions often comes from those who experience in their daily work how resources are obtained, consumed and also disposed of. In other words, from those who experience the museum or theater, including buildings and work processes, as an organism beyond the exhibition spaces. Based on the experiences of various actors, the aim is to address moments of self-empowerment and co-creation as well as expected and unexpected challenges and opportunities.

One example project is the Material Carousel, an initiative of the Green Culture Collective Cologne (GCCC), supported by the City of Cologne's cultural development planning department. Under the motto "Mine, yours, ours - Material Carousel of Cologne Culture", in August 2024 a wide range of materials and relics from past cultural productions that were no longer needed could be taken to several museums: from picture frames and catalogs to costumes, office furniture and design objects.

We are delighted that the following people have agreed to participate:

Miriam Szwast studied art history in Saarbrücken, Frankfurt a.M. and Hamburg. She has been Curator of Photography at the Museum Ludwig since 2013 and has held the additional role of Curator of Ecology since 2021. She is the initiator of the Sustainability Team at the Museum Ludwig.

Hanna Imorde

Miriam Szwast and Hanna Imorde jointly run the Green Culture Collective Cologne, a free collective of climate-active cultural practitioners in Cologne. Around 30 institutions and organizations are currently involved. The aim is to learn together and carry out activities such as the material carousel. Each year has a theme - in 2024 it was "Material", in 2025 it is "Regeneration".

Register: https://vhs-koeln.de/Veranstaltung/titel-Zero+Waste+in+Culture/cmx67bf210ed8cee.html