Creating and Implementing a Sustainability Strategy for Tate

Client Challenge

Tate, one of the top art galleries in the world, wanted to create a sustainability strategy that would allow the gallery to continue to deliver an exceptional visitor experience while operating in a more cost-efficient manner with less environmental impact.

This was quite a challenge for an organization with four galleries spread across England and over 7 million visitors annually. We were asked to create a strategy that would enable Tate to achieve these goals.

Our Role

• To lead a review of the leadership position of Tate compared to its peers.
• To lead Tate’s Sustainability Task Force in creating a vision and strategy for sustainability across all sites.
• To work with the Task Force in developing training and tools to establish internal sustainability capacity.

Results

• An integrated sustainability strategy aligned across all sites and embedded in Tate’s overall corporate plan and vision.
• Operational changes and campaigns leading to savings of around $480,000 over three years (an average of $160,000 per year).
• Leadership in sustainability amongst museums globally.
• External recognition by major UK organizations such as the Carbon Trust, Green 500 and 10:10 Campaign.

Client Testimonials

Rachel has helped to substantiate Tate’s broad sustainability ambitions and turn our aims into action. Ensuring a close fit with our core values and strategic direction, she has helped sharpen our focus and has given rigour to our methods. Rachel has brought valuable professional expertise from the sustainability sector into the museum context. She engenders fresh thinking and applies new solutions that are helping us achieve real change within Tate and beyond. 
– Sir Nicholas Serota, Director, Tate

Rachel has been invaluable in forming our sustainability strategy at Tate. We didn’t have the skills and knowledge in house so by employing Greener Museums we got an expert and a project champion to work across all four Tate galleries and bring ideas together.  Her enthusiasm is priceless in motivating colleagues through what is effectively a huge change management period. She has inspired us to think and work differently. 
– Claire Eva, Head of Marketing, Tate