Partnerships for Sustainability
The turning of the year is an ideal time to bring back the Sustainable Development Goals, global resolutions for a future that works for all.
Today, I’d like to focus on the final goal, Goal 17 which is to Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
I’ve been contemplating partnerships and collaboration lately, it will likely become a theme for 2025. In this particular SDG, the target area most relevant to Conscious Costume is Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. (if you need a refresher on the SDGs, revisit the post from September 2023 here).
We all know the value of a good partnership in creating costumes (designers, rental houses, companies, etc…). We often ignore the sustainable partnership with the audience, and the potential impact we can have. According to the Broadway League, more than 12.3 million tickets were purchased for just Broadway alone in the 2023-2024 season. Imagine, every audience member reading about the sustainability of the production in their program, what impact could that have?
What other unique or overlooked partnerships could spread better practices? How can theatre/film promote sustainable partnerships?
I plan to consider this question throughout 2025!
Suggested media:
Nora Bateson interview on Entangled World: I was recently introduced to the work of Nora Bateson through my board position at involveMINT. Her work asks the question “How can we improve our perception of the complexity we live within, so we may improve our interaction with the world?”
adrienne maree brown interview on Green Dreamer: I’ve followed adrienne maree brown for many years, starting with reading Emergent Strategy. This episode is aptly titled “Sowing seeds of love in our “garden of ideas” and gives strategies for overcoming political differences by focusing on core values and radical kindness.
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon: This book was a short pep talk recycling creative strategies into digestible chapters and activities. It is a practical reminder that we are all building on the work of artists who came before us. affiliate link
