Environmental Action Plan

  • Marianne Boesky Gallery is actively committed to reducing our carbon footprint and utilizing environmentally-friendly products and services wherever possible. That...
    Allison Janae Hamilton, Floridawater II, 2019

    Marianne Boesky Gallery is actively committed to reducing our carbon footprint and utilizing environmentally-friendly products and services wherever possible. That year, we launched our first carbon-neutral exhibition with Allison Janae Hamilton and began many of the environmentally-conscious practices that have now become standard at the gallery. 

     

    In 2021, Marianne Boesky Gallery began working with Galleries Commit, Art to Acres, and the Gallery Climate Coalition to reduce its carbon footprint and conserve natural resources around the world. To date, the gallery—with the support of our generous clientele—has contributed to the conservation of more than 59,000 acres of land in Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia.

     

    In 2023—thanks to the incredible efforts of the gallery's green committee, registrars, artists, and clients—the gallery's contributions to Art to Acres have gone toward the protection of nearly 5,600 acres of dry forest in Catamayo, Ecuador and nearly 12,000 acres of old-growth cloud forest in the newly declared El Torno Municipal Protected Area in Bolivia. Near Amboró National Park and the existing Guenda Urubó Departmental Protected Area, the new El Torno Protected Area will expand the region's protected lands, conserving a natural reservoir linked to thirteen local communities and supporting the continued flourishing of the regional biodiversity.

  • 8x8 Climate Action Plan

    In 2022, Marianne Boesky Gallery worked with Galleries Commit to create and publish a curated 8x8 Climate Action Plan which outlines areas of accomplishment in the gallery’s environmental justice initiative to date. The bullet points below demonstrate this 8x8 plan and expand upon the gallery’s commitment to climate action for 2023.

     

    Tracking Carbon Footprint

    • Since prioritizing our commitment to sustainability in 2021, Marianne Boesky Gallery has actively tracked our carbon dioxide emissions using Gallery Climate Coalition's carbon calculator to assess the gallery’s carbon output for exhibitions, projects, pop-ups, art fairs, staff travel, and gallery energy usage. We have successfully published this information on the Gallery Climate Coalition website. 
    •  Using the 2022 report as a baseline, the gallery will continue to track carbon emissions for 2023 and assess changes and reductions over the next year. From there, we can better determine our reduction targets toward 2030.

     

    Carbon Conscious Contribution (CCC) Fee

    • In 2021, the gallery began requiring a mandatory Carbon Conscious Contribution (CCC) fee on a majority of gallery sales to raise funds for land conservation in partnership with Galleries Commit x Art to Acres. In 2022, this fee became mandatory for all sales. By the end of 2022, the gallery and its patrons supported the conservation of over 41,553 acres of high biodiversity forests that are also key watersheds for local communities.
    • In 2023, the gallery will continue to require a mandatory Carbon Conscious Contribution (CCC) fee on all gallery sales.

     

    Energy Audit and Clean Energy Initiatives

    • Representatives of the gallery have met with NYC Accelerator and Con Edison both online and in person to assess areas of improvement to become a more energy efficient building through our lighting and HVAC systems. Currently, the gallery’s commercial space uses primarily LED lights and maintains a practice of turning off all lights at the end of the day.
    • Our meeting with NYC Accelerator served as the initial step to understanding where we can replace lighting and heat with more energy efficient options. In 2023, we will assess our ability to upgrade any remaining lights to LED. Through NYC Accelerator, gallery representatives will also explore the available community solar power options to determine if we are able to access clean energy in our neighborhood.

     

    Shipping

    • Currently, the gallery saves as many packing materials as possible and strives for a general culture of minimal shipping. We also use truck/van transportation for all domestic shipments instead of air transportation.
    • In 2023, the gallery will work toward prioritizing low emission shipments and toward advance shipping deadlines that consolidate and minimize shipping for art fairs and pop-ups when possible.

     

    Travel

    • Beginning in 2022, the gallery reduced annual participation in art fairs, reducing travel related to art fairs. We have also worked to reduce unnecessary travel by requiring all staff to submit their travel schedules for review and approval.
    • In 2023, the gallery will continue to reduce travel using the steps outlined above. Low carbon emission flights for staff and artist travel are prioritized when available. We will also prioritize using local labor/art handling teams during fairs and pop-ups to avoid excessive staff travel.

     

    Reducing Waste

    • Since 2021, Marianne Boesky Gallery has pledged to not produce any in-house publications for gallery programming or participate in print advertising. We no longer provide printed copies of our exhibition press releases and have switched exclusively to scannable QR codes. For necessary internal printing, we use 100% recycled paper and scrap paper when possible. Additionally, the gallery maintains a subscription with GROVE, which is an environmentally conscious company offering recycled and “green” cleaning products such as paper towels and toilet paper. 
    • In 2023, Marianne Boesky Gallery successfully implemented a composting system to reduce food waste at the gallery. The gallery tracks the number of reams of paper purchased throughout the year to understand the amount of internal printing done at the gallery. At the end of 2023, we will set a reduction target for paper use.


    Art Handling

    • The gallery’s art handling team currently retrofits existing crates as a first solution when crating is needed. We also made two large donations of spare materials to Material for the Arts in 2022.
    • In 2023, the operations team will continue researching and participating in circular, material reuse economies like Materials for the Arts, Barder.art, and Art Start. These sites will allow us to donate used material that is in good condition and source existing material before fabricating or purchasing new items.

     

    Staff Commitment

    • Currently, the gallery has a “green committee” which meets bi-monthly to encourage staff on sustaining and implementing our green initiatives. One green committee member participates in training and workshops such as the monthly Galleries Commit Art and Climate Action Community Meetings, and shares findings with the rest of our team. 
    • In 2023, the gallery will make climate action an official part of all new job descriptions to demonstrate to prospective applicants that environmental justice is a priority for each department within the gallery. The gallery will also encourage participation in community and climate-justice work by organizing a staff-wide mandatory “community volunteer outing” in which we close the gallery for one day a year to travel offsite to collectively volunteer with a local non-profit of our choosing. 

      

    There is much more to be one to combat the history of mistakes we have inherited and perpetuated as individuals, as an industry, and as a society. We are grateful to have begun this important process, and hope that you will join us in whatever ways that you can. We look forward to growing more in the coming months and years.