Low Carbon Devon Creative Industries

Find out how we can support creative industries to better align to the low carbon agenda
Creative industries, someone filming on mobile phone.
Low Carbon Devon supported the creative industries by offering:
  • Research to assist in the development of a practice, process, product or service within the low carbon agenda.
  • Free events, symposia and workshops to learn about the circular economy or reducing carbon emissions.
  • Opportunities to network and collaborate.
Dr Emma Whittaker has been researching the low carbon practices of creative industries and asking: "what are the narratives of low carbon and how can we take action for positive change?".
Devon has a strong creative sector and with nature and traditional skills often central to people’s work, they tend to be conscious of the impact they leave on the planet. Many within the sector are sole traders and yet they are finding the time and the inspiration to adapt their practices to reduce their environmental impact.
Through the Low Carbon Devon project, Dr Emma Whittaker supported these environmental ambitions, by joining enterprises together within the Green Maker Initiative to share low carbon ideas and best practices. Some of the ideas shared within the creative community are brilliantly simple; such as ceramicists developing stacking systems in kilns for the most efficient use and dyers using sunlight to fix natural dyes made from plants. The changes help to reduce energy and pollutants whilst meeting demand for environmentally conscious suppliers.
The map shows some of Devon’s creative industries and the Green Maker Initiative members from across the South West who are engaged in reducing their carbon emissions and environmental impact.
To find out how your creative practice can be included, visit the Green Maker Initiative.
Low Carbon Devon, Green Maker Map

Our initiatives

Green Maker Initiative

Green Maker Initiative

The Green Maker Initiative (GMI) is a free initiative, supported by ERDF Low Carbon Devon, University of Plymouth, MAKE Southwest and Arts Council England, that helps makers reduce the environmental impact of their practice.
Creatives who sign up for the Green Maker Initiative get free access to a range of resources, are able to use the logo on their merchandise and will be featured on map plotting South West makers who are actively engaged in reducing their environmental impact.
Makers and the making of the map will be documented in photography and film and will form part of a book about the Green Maker Initiative created by JM Media, produced by Dr Emma Whittaker and Polly Macpherson , EDRF Low Carbon Devon, University of Plymouth. The map will be on display for a week following the GMI event.
Watch: find out how the Green Maker Initiative is supporting creative industries in the South West (17 minutes)

AHRC Net Zero Visions – Sustainability Hub Mural

Acclaimed professionals in animation, illustration, interactive games, and public murals worked with communities to produce positive ‘Visions’ of locations across Devon as carbon net-zero in 2050. The Sustainability Hub Mural depicts a range of net zero and sustainability visions for the university and for the city of Plymouth and celebrates initiatives already taking place.
AHRC Net Zero Visions – Sustainability Hub Mural

Low Carbon Devon - Creative Industries Gallery

Some of the work from artists and creatives involved in the project

Net Zero Visions Game - still image of game screen by Mutant Labs 
Mutant Labs
The Net Zero Visions Game
Net Zero Visions - a mural wall in Tiverton by Kate Crawfurd 
Kate Crawfurd
Net Zero Visions Tiverton Mural
Stills of a Net Zero Visions Animation by Ashley Potter 
Ashley Potter
Net Zero Visions Animation (stills)
Drawing of Net Zero Visions of Yealmpton, by Phillip Harris. 
Illustrator Philip Harrris
Net Zero Visions of Yealmpton
Call of Nature: A Community Eco-hub for Exmouth, Rosie Johnson Illustrates
Call of Nature: A Community Eco-hub for Exmouth, Rosie Johnson Illustrates
Winner of the Net Zero Visions Open Artist Call
Soap dishes made from recycled bottle tops, made by Precious Plastics Plymouth and Tavistock.
Soap dishes made from recycled bottle tops
Made by Precious Plastics Plymouth and Tavistock

Low Carbon Devon - Creative Industries past events

Catch up on previous Creative Industries events

Creative Commissions Workshop
A Green Minds, Plymouth County Council Mobility Hubs and University of Plymouth Low Carbon Devon event.

Mission Possible: Art and Enterprise for a Zero Carbon World
The climate emergency needs action now! Can art be a catalyst for climate action?

Low Carbon Devon | Creative Practices that Tread Lightly on the Earth Workshop
Are you a maker, designer, crafts person, artist, creative? Do you want to turn your concern for climate emergency into a positive change in your work