"We have set ourselves ten challenging goals for the decade ahead. Only by working together will we be able to solve our biggest issues. These goals set the pace for the live production industry and reflect our shared aspirations and needs," says SiPA's Craig Bennett.
SiPA has been created by the industry to provide a central hub for collaboration and culture change. Its initiative encompasses issues around equality, well-being, education and development, waste, procurement, renewable energy, transparent reporting of environmental and social impacts, fair pay and resilient industry economics. The SiPA goals create an aspirational, active and practical framework that is common to all. www.sipa.org.uk/goals
As an industry that is integral to the creative and cultural sector, we must recognise the power of culture and the cultural narrative to the delivery of change. SiPA will work with the existing networks of industry membership organisations; professional bodies and environmental sustainability organisations such as Julie's Bicycle and Creative Carbon Scotland.
For years individuals and companies have been battling some of the 21st century's biggest challenges alone. By 2025, the period covered by the SiPA initiative's goals, today's 8 year olds will be entering adulthood. As an industry, we want to ensure that we have provided the foundations for them to achieve their potential.
SiPA's Industry Sustainability Goals will be ratified, discussed and signed at the PLASA London trade show, October 2015. Individuals, businesses and organisations can sign digitally at www.SiPA.org.uk/sign from 1 October 2015.
Confirmed for PLASA London are: Sunday 4 October 1415 - 1500 SiPA Goal Launch; Sunday 4 October 1615 - 1700 Social Sustainability Panel; Monday 5 October 1615 - 1700 Economic Sustainability Panel; Tuesday 6 October 1015 - 1100 Environmental Sustainability Panel. (www.plasashow.com/seminars)
Matthew Griffiths, CEO Professional Lighting and Sound Association commented, "The approach to this is key because it's about the collective. It's about everybody's problem - it's about everybody's solution. SiPA's approach mirrors all of our experience of working in theatre and live events which is that nothing happens in isolation - anything that happens on stage can't happen without a whole supply chain behind it."
SiPA's Craig Bennett added, "For 12 months, SiPA has partnered with over 70 individuals and organisations from all areas of the live production industry. SiPA has worked to identify ten goals that universally represent the issues we face as individuals and organisations. We have explored the stories of the live production industry and together we have uncovered ten major shared goals."
Tom Harper, resource and sustainability manager, Unusual Rigging explained, "In our sector, there's a really essential requirement to look at how we value resources. There's a massive gulf between acknowledging and accepting that change needs to take place in the industry and knowing how to practically apply it. It comes down to narrative and storytelling and SiPA encourages a shift forward on a much bigger scale."
Juliet Hayes, risk and sustainability manager, Ambassador Theatre Group concluded, "With SiPA entering the picture, it's a very good opportunity to join these very strong, like-minded people together - all passionate about the goals SiPA has put forward. We need collective expertise in response to these challenges so I'm very much for SiPA and what it stands for."
(Jim Evans)
