Embracing ambivalence: responsibility discourses around ‘greening’ the performing arts

How does the performing arts sector feel about the need to 'green' the performing arts? A sense of urgency around climate change and ecological degradation is informing profound changes in the way the arts field sees itself and inducing a debate around sustainability and the arts' perception of responsibility. Despite the undeniable planetary emergency, the lumping together of environmental issues and artistic practices remains complex and controversial, demanding careful examination. By exploring the preliminary results of a nation-wide inquiry and workshops within artistic institutions based in Portugal, this paper discusses the overarching challenge of environmental sustainability, examining the ways in which ecological responsibility is apprehended and justified, and seeking to contribute to a more nuanced and context-sensitive understanding of the 'green transition'.