The Green Ribbon Commission (GRC) Cultural Institutions Working Group comprises a wide variety of arts, sports, nature-based, historic, and entertainment organizations in and near Boston, as they build awareness and drive action on climate issues on behalf of their own organizations, the cultural sector, the City, and audiences.
The Cultural Institutions of Boston are integral to the fabric and character of the city. Museums, theaters, concert halls and sports arenas — especially those with collections and buildings — need help preparing for future climate impacts, and they also need strategies for transitioning to carbon-free energy use.
Thanks to their unique “line of business,” the cultural institutions have much to contribute in terms of communication, outreach, and thought-provoking programming. These institutions have the potential to influence our perceptions of shared challenges, expand our understanding of complex issues, and reach very large audiences. Their voices are therefore integral to helping people understand climate in creative, interdisciplinary ways.
Chairs
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Carole Charnow
President and CEO
Boston Children’s Museum -
Chris Cook
Executive Director
The Greenway -
Sharon Malt
President
Huntington Theatre Company Board of Trustees -
Tim Ritchie
President
Museum of Science -
Gwill York
Founding Managing Director, Lighthouse Capital Partners;
Board of Trustees President, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Participating Organizations
Arnold Arboretum, ArtsEmerson, Boston Architectural College, Boston Athenæum, Boston Ballet, Boston Center for the Arts, Boston Children’s Museum, Boston Public Library, Boston Red Sox, Boston Society of Architects, Boston Symphony Orchestra, BSA Foundation, Emerald Necklace Conservancy, ArtsEmerson, Esplanade Association, Fenway Alliance, Goethe-Institut Boston, Handel and Haydn Society, Harvard Art Museums, Harvard Museums of Science and Culture, Huntington Theatre Company, Institute of Contemporary Art, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum, Mary Baker Eddy Library, Mass Art, Massachusetts Historical Society, Metropolitan Waterworks Museum, Museum of African American History, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, New England Historic Genealogical Society, New England Museum Association, Norman B. Leventhal Map Center, Now + There, Paul Revere House, Rose Kennedy Greenway, USS Constitution Museum, Zoo New England.
Working Group Initiatives
Collaborative Climate Action Planning
Applications are now open for Boston area enterprises to enroll in the GRC’s 2024/2025 Collaborative Climate Action Planning (CCAP) cohort through May 30, 2024. Now in its fourth year, the GRC’s successful CCAP approach reduces barriers to taking organizational climate action and developing a strategy for compliance with the City of Boston’s Building Emissions Disclosure and Reporting Ordinance (BERDO). This program includes a peer learning community, trainings, and technical assistance to support companies and organizations in addressing mitigation, resiliency, and climate justice work. The fall’s cohort is open to organizations in any sector and provides a highly cost-effective way to begin organizational strategic climate planning.