MERGE
Evolving beyond International Touring and Environmental Responsibility programme 2023/24
"Travel and touring are essential to creativity and culture, but they come at a cost. As the urgency of the climate crisis increases, so does the need for our sector to fully understand its touring footprint, and to sustain a means of sharing art which supports our transition to a global low carbon future."
- Arts Council England
In spring 2023, Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) was one of 20 artists and companies (10 from England and 10 from Denmark) selected to participate in round two of the International Touring and Environmental Responsibility programme.
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This three-month interactive online programme, delivered by Julie’s Bicycle in partnership with Arts Council England and the Danish Arts Foundation, explored key touring challenges. It included provocations, frameworks, and practical approaches to reducing carbon footprints and environmental impacts.
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Following the programme, participants were invited to apply for funding in collaboration with one another. Three projects were awarded seed funding to develop concepts originating from the programme.
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ESD, in partnership with Danish composer Liv Vester Larsen, was one of the three successful recipients.
"The ITER programme aims to support performing arts professionals in England and Denmark to push the boundaries of international touring and explore new ways to address environmental and sustainability concerns within the performing arts sector."
- Arts Council England
In October 2023, the project MERGE brought together ESD’s creative director Eliot Smith, Danish composer Liv Vester Larsen, and ESD dancers Yamit Salazar and Rowan Parker at Woodhorn Museum in Ashington, England—formerly the world’s largest pit village.
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The collaboration resulted in the creation and performance of an interdisciplinary contemporary dance work titled Coalfield to Landscape. The piece aimed to highlight the sustainable transformation of coalfields into the stunning landscapes of southeast Northumberland, an area of outstanding natural beauty.
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Reflecting on the project, Liv Vester Larsen said:
“During our planning of MERGE and this collaboration, I realized that Eliot and I share many similar values regarding our artistic approach, local engagement, and how to incorporate nature, diversity, and sustainability into every aspect of creative work.
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The music for Coalfield to Landscape includes sound elements inspired by the Northumbrian small-pipe, the hooves of pit ponies, coal, and other natural materials collected from the Ashington area. These elements were combined with sounds from the industrial past,” explained Liv, who traveled to Ashington using train and ferry, avoiding air travel to ensure a more environmentally sustainable journey.
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“Sound recordings of coal, steel, factories, and wind vibrations interacting with trees were used to amplify the natural experience of this piece,” she added.
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Eliot Smith shared his thoughts:
“The work focuses on the coalfield communities of Northumberland, highlighting how they benefit from a renewed landscape. It celebrates their unique heritage while welcoming visitors from afar to engage in stewardship of the land, shaped by an understanding of the past and the needs of the future.
As ESD grows, we remain committed to accountability in all aspects of our work related to the environment. This includes submitting carbon data for all future projects using the carbon calculator developed by Julie’s Bicycle and continuing to deliver on the pledges in our Environmental Policy, which was launched in February 2021.”
Submissions of Creative Climate Tools Entry to the Julie's Bicycle:
Total emissions for COALFIELD TO LANDSCAPE: 541.4 kg CO2e
"There is so much more we can do, as a company and within our industry, to address the climate emergency and we will continue to explore ways to be greener (without greenwashing) in all areas of our operations."
- Eliot Smith
