Future – Green Theatre Project: The beginnings

Miskolc National Theatre is one of the oldest and largest domestic theatrical organisation, with five venues. The number of premiere performances ranks it also to the top in Hungary, it meant seventeen new productions in season 2019/2020. It employs more than 400 people throughout the year, it has its own symphonic orchestra and choir, Ballet Miskolc is also a department of the Theatre.

The international Bartók Plus Opera Festival has been organised here on a yearly basis, and the Theatre has more than 140 000 spectators come to visit - therefore, besides its region-wide cultural relevance, it can also be an influencer of attitudes.

As of 2019/2022 season the Theatre set the goal of becoming the first theatrical establishment of ecological awareness in Hungary, and by its own project named the ‘Future - Green Theatre Project' would like to share practices, experiences and hand on the ways of becoming a green institution, as a model to cultural organisations committed to environment protection, - by finding alternatives that respect artistic freedom.

Project goals

Achieving the smallest possible ecological footprint in the near future, eco-aware energetic developments, reducing the magnitude of municipal waste, prioritizing environmental awareness in operations and maintenance. In addition to these: organising theme-talks, exhibitions and so called eco-sensitising programs that can change attitudes.

Project description

In the next few years our Theatre intends to implement all developments in an environmental-friendly manner, commits itself towards the lowest possible carbon emission and to minimising the amount of non-recyclable waste. Its goal is to operate on the basis of highest possible energy efficiency, to have hot water and heating services fully from renewable energy sources, to focus on eco-awareness in acquisitions for maintenance and for artistic projects. The goals materialised can effect everyone - may it be a colleague or a spectator that enters the building.

The Theatre has already made measures in the field of energetics, through the achievement of the Town Municipality of Miskolc it receives its electricity and heating supplies from a renewal source of energy for the most of the year, and selective waste collection is performed in the whole building.

For the sake of efficiency a change of attitude is also necessary. We placard demonstrational graphics and illustrations and intend to organise eco-sensitising programs in the future, for our co-workers first, and later on we wish to host presentations of professional organisations and foundations, and make events that educate environmental awareness regular on the program of the Theatre.

In the last years panel discussions and exhibitions were organised on the topic of sustainability, and bird safety stickers were installed to prevent accidental collision.

A non-comprehensive list of our plans:

• organising charity events for green NGOs
• introduction of sensor-operated lighting in operational areas
• improvement of services of the staff canteen
• using eco-friendly chemicals 
• introducing e-ticket admission

Accomplished projects:

• thanks to the investment of the Miskolc Municipality, the Theatre now gets most of its electricity and heating from renewable energy sources, saving an average of 39% since its introduction.
  
• introduction of eco-aware waste collection (selective collectors for batteries, fluorescent lamps, printer toner cartridges, used mobile phones and non-returnable glass bottles) - reducing general waste by 3000 litres per month
  
• installation of water saving devices - achieving a 25% reduction in water consumption
  
• restoration of the Grand Theatre's stage planks with environmental-friendly paint
• website for the Project
• introduction of reusable cups
• reusable (washable) wet wipes in the make-up department
• collaboration with the Miskolc Recycling Center in the acquisition of props and furniture
• costume manufacturing of re-textiles through the brand Nanushka
• long term cooperation with Deloitte Business and Management Advisory Inc.
• collaboration with WWF Hungary and many Hungarian green NGOs

A year and a half after the project launched we have signed cooperation agreements with more than fifteen organisations and companies, and more than twenty domestic theatres and production companies have joined to our initiative and adopted the standard agreement we have developed.

In the future we wish to affect the endearment of public transportation, continue to take part in tree planting and waste collecting activities and also in the next European Week for Waste Reduction. On the long run we plan to increase the size of green surfaces of the building, possibly by creating a rooftop garden; to introduce a so called 'grey-water system' and to mend the insulation. In the course of the materialisation of all these plans we hope to set a model and a useful guide of good practices of implementation to other organisations undertaking such assignments.