Art Sustainability Initiatives @NTNU
Abstract
A joint venture between the Taiwan Visual Arts Association (AVAT) and the Department of Fine Arts of the National Taiwan Normal University has been working hard in sustainable initiatives for visual arts. Following the implementation of the first sustainability awareness survey in Taiwan’s visual arts in 2023 and the completion of the preliminary research “Local Awakening of Climate Justice: Research Report on Sustainable Action in Visual Arts”, the International Forum for Art Sustainability held at the end of November 2024 to discuss the core question: “How can those who work in the field of artistic creativity integrate the concept of sustainability into their own artistic practice and professional career development, and find the pillars of ecological sustainability that are related to themselves and the international community?”
The forum brought together eight groups of sustainable activists from the business community, art research and art creation at home and abroad as speakers, who engaged in dialogue with the international community based on local contexts to generate approaches that benefit the overall ecosystem and environment. We found that the local artistic community is trying to unite cross-domain forces to exert international influence on climate sustainability; correspondingly, we are also concerned about the impact on the rights and interests of visual artists when ESG becomes a qualification. Therefore, we call on the government to design a human-driven governance plan for visual arts that emphasizes both net zero policies and resilience, and to promote cross-sector collaboration based on the experience of pioneers to facilitate the development and promotion of sustainable materials that are in line with local environment and cultures, while also establishing a sustainable knowledge platform for dialogue, sharing, practical case exposure, and symbiosis.