Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums is celebrating receiving Green Tourism Gold accreditation for four of its venues.
Aberdeen Art Gallery was awarded Gold status for the second year in a row, the highest possible award for Green Tourism. Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Provost Skene’s House and the Treasure Hub were added to the list of Gold-standard venues, building on their previous success of receiving Silver awards last year.
Councillor Ian Yuill, Co-Leader of the Council, said, “The recent Gold awards from Green Tourism highlight the Council’s long-term commitment to sustainability, ranging from support for local communities to improving biodiversity in our green spaces. The Archives, Gallery & Museums team have developed a wonderful programme of innovative green initiatives and I commend their continued work in this area.”
Councillor Miranda Radley, Aberdeen City Council’s tourism spokesperson and VisitAberdeenshire Council Director, said, “The globally-recognised Green Tourism awards will serve to reassure visitors that we are committed to a climate-positive future. The region has a rich history of art and culture as well as a world-renowned natural landscape. It’s fantastic to see both being celebrated through this success.”
David Jackson, VisitScotland Regional Director, said, “I’m thrilled to see AAGM demonstrating real leadership in sustainable tourism, preserving Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage - something that has been rewarded with not only one but all four of its venues achieving Green Tourism Award success. Visitors are increasingly looking to make sustainable choices, so this is not only worthy recognition of AAGM’s responsible practices but also a great way of responding to this consumer trend which, in turn, helps support Scotland’s vision of being the most economically, environmentally and socially sustainable destination in the world.”
The theme of sustainability also features in current exhibitions. New displays at the Maritime Museum invites visitors to consider green energy usage in our homes, while the Works on Paper: Art and Energy at the Art Gallery explores how artists have engaged creatively with energy infrastructure over the the past 50 years.
Green Tourism is a globally recognised sustainability awards provider, supporting organisations to embed responsible and environmentally friendly practices from ethical buying to reducing energy use.
AAGM were congratulated on their excellent understanding of sustainability and their awareness of opportunities and challenges associated with running a responsible business.
David McDonald of the Green Tourism Awards, said, “It was an easy decision for the awards committee and it was obvious how much effort had been put in to the applications. They especially applauded the depth of evidence which accompanied the submissions. A very deserved well done to the whole team for this tremendous achievement.”
The team’s submissions were themed around People, Places and Planet, with initiatives including:
- reducing energy consumption through installation of LED lighting, low-flush toilets and water-saving taps
- installing a dual composter to help reduce food waste produced by team members
- protecting our pollinators and wildlife by increasing green space and installing planters on Aberdeen Art Gallery’s West Terrace
- a redesigned What’s On brochure which reduces paper usage by 68%
- introducing recycled and plastic-free stock in the Maritime Museum and Art Gallery shops
- the introduction of weekly waste tracking, with the aim to reduce waste further in the coming year
- reinstating bee hives at Aberdeen Treasure Hub
- embedding environmental awareness within the team through knowledge sharing and staff training
Key projects:
Establishing a wildflower meadow at the Treasure Hub in Northfield
Over 97% of the UK’s wildflower meadows have been lost since the 1930s. Staff worked with Habitat People to rewild a patch of land at the Treasure Hub to bring back at-risk plant species including crane’s-bill, yellow toadflax or pignut. As the meadow matures it will increase the biodiversity of the area, including pollinators and grasshoppers.