Art Switch was born from a shared passion for environmental sustainability within the creative community. Our journey began in the fall of 2019, prompted by our collective frustration over the pervasive issue of single-use waste and the lack of alternative practices in the industry. We quickly united over a common goal: instigate positive change by engaging and curating different voices that empower climate action in the arts.

With our Dutch and German roots, it made sense to create an initiative that would have a foothold both in Europe and in New York, our current home base. Amsterdam, as a global hub for innovative practices and circular systems, seemed like the best complementary location to start from. Once we launched Art Switch, we also understood the impact that could arise from a broad and global coalition of climate advocates. During our first conference, we were blown away by the amount of international participation eager to share and learn from each other. It became clear that the biggest shift would come from uniting geographies, people, and practices.

Our journey has been one of evolution and growth. Art Switch transitioned from online conferences and publications to developing transdisciplinary public programming across a spectrum of institutions including galleries, museums, universities, and community spaces. Our topics have evolved along with the sector’s demands, continuously pushing the boundaries of the conversation and practices. On a personal level, running Art Switch has been a source of continual learning and it’s been fun to see how together with other organizations like Art Into Acres, Art + Climate Action, Artists Commit, Galleries Commit, Gallery Climate Coalition, Ki Culture, we have shaped the discourse and somewhat grew into a family.

In 2019, the discourse around sustainability in the arts was still very new with little centralized platforms and a lack of data and resources. It felt like an open ground with many possibilities to implement change. Amid the pandemic, the sector was able to adapt and as a result, many new organizations blossomed to address the problems along the supply chain of the arts. Since then, the field of sustainability in the arts has moved away from its niche into a mature topic with new sustainability leadership roles, specialized funding, and sector-specific consulting agencies. At the core of these changes lies a strong collaborative foundation, exemplified by coalitions of organizations such as PACT, Partners for Arts Climate Targets, and GALA, Green Art Lab Alliance.