Harmonizing Art and Ecology: An Analysis of Sustainability Practices in the Visual Arts Industry

Ecological sustainability has become a growing concern throughout all industries in the last decades. In this thesis I review the current state of ecological sustainability practices and their respective accountabilities in the visual arts industry. The thesis begins by defining the visual arts industry, its members, and its societal function. I then overview the deeply rooted connections between art and ecological themes, reviewing the beginnings of ecological art up to today’s current art activist groups. Secondly, the thesis reviews the concepts of corporate social responsibility, corporate sustainability, and corporate accountability and its applicability to the visual arts industry. To garner a deeper understanding of the current practices of sustainability accounting in the visual arts industry I present the conducted research that spans across twenty renowned visual art institutions. Followed by a showcase of three case studies: Christie’s, Gagosian, and Art Basel which displays the variation and opacity of sustainability practices and accounting in the visual arts industry. Subsequently, I will discuss how visual arts institutions and organizations can improve their sustainability efforts through art-specific methods that enhance sustainability commitment and change throughout the industry. Then concluding with a final observation on the implications of a more accountable and environmentally sustainable visual arts industry and its benefits to the larger society.