About C-Change
C-Change is an URBACT transfer network of six cities working together to build a model of cultural collaboration on climate based on the Manchester Arts Sustainability Team model.
In 2011, Manchester’s cultural leaders first came together to explore what the city’s cultural organisations could do to contribute to the city’s first climate change strategy. Since then, the city’s cultural community has been working together through the Manchester Arts Sustainability Team (MAST) to understand its impact and act on climate.
As a member of the Manchester Climate Change Partnership, MAST now also plays an active role in city climate change strategy. MAST’s collaborative approach, in a city which recognises the value of culture and is itself demonstrating climate change leadership, established Manchester as a leading example of cultural collaboration on climate action and engagement.
In 2017, Manchester was recognised as an URBACT Good Practice City in recognition of MAST’s work and its role in supporting city climate change strategy. This laid the way for the creation of a new network of cities who wanted to learn from Manchester’s good practice and build something similar in their cities.
C-Change network meeting, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, October 2019
Christiane Freudig (Consol Theater), Christopher Lammert (artist), Tobias Werner (Musiktheater im Revier), Stefanie Rogg (C-Change Project Manager), Susanne Dippel (Climate Action Manager), Julia Hewelt (emschertainment) and Simon Curtis (MAST) at the C-Change network meeting in Manchester, October 2019 (Photo © Stefanie Rogg)
Simon Curtis, Manchester Arts Sustainability Team and Jonny Sadler, Manchester Climate Change Agency receiving the URBACT Good Practice Award, Tallin, October 2017
C-Change Timeline 2017 - 2021
2017
Recognition
Manchester Arts Sustainability Team’s collaboration and contribution to city climate strategy gets Urbact Good Practice award
2018
Network building
Manchester establishes Urbact transfer network with 5 cities who want to learn and build on its approach
2019
Learning
5 cities learn about Manchester’s approach and start building something similar
2020
Doing
Culture and climate start connecting in each city and driving sector action and engagement on climate
2021
Sharing
The network shares its model, what it has done and what it has learnt to inspire other cities…
Explore the C-Change Cities
Watch our C-Change animation
C-Change expert support
Under the URBACT Programme each network has an appointed Lead Expert who supports network learning and exchange, local implementation and overall delivery.
C-Change's Lead Expert is Claire Buckley, Programme Lead at Julie's Bicycle, a long-standing partner of the Manchester Arts Sustainability Team
“It has been an absolute privilege to work with and support the C-Change network, to see five new cities build on the Manchester Arts Sustainability Team model, shape and make it their own and also to see how C-Change has strengthened collaboration between city and sector in Manchester. The network was built on connection and trust with a wonderful group of committed people from six cities, which has resulted in cultural collaboration, action and engagement on climate. I have learnt a lot from them all.”
Claire Buckley, URBACT Lead Expert and Programme Lead, Julie's Bicycle
