Written by Shade the UK and commissioned by the British Film Institute (BFI), South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us, with support from The Old Vic, the guide is aimed at a wide range of cultural venues, including museums, galleries, theatres, cinemas, cultural centres and performance spaces.
The guide notes that Europe is warming faster than any other continent and highlights, especially for the United Kingdom, the particular challenges facing buildings that were historically designed to retain heat rather than dissipate it. Many cultural venues, especially those housed in heritage buildings, are not well equipped to cope with increasingly high temperatures.
Arts and cultural organisations face a combination of risks, including:
- High visitor numbers and crowd density that increase indoor temperatures
- Large glazed areas that can lead to significant solar gain
- Unshaded outdoor spaces that become uncomfortable during hot weather
- Heat-generating technical equipment such as lighting, projectors and audiovisual systems
- Heritage building constraints that can limit adaptation options
- Limited natural ventilation and urban heat island effects
- Operational requirements that make rapid adaptation difficult during heatwaves
While some institutions may experience minor benefits, such as increased sales of refreshments during hot weather, the guide concludes that the overall impacts of extreme heat on operations, staff, visitors and collections are overwhelmingly negative.
A practical framework for action
The publication is designed to demonstrate that heat adaptation is both necessary and achievable. Rather than promoting a one-size-fits-all approach, it encourages organisations to take gradual steps that suit their buildings, resources and circumstances.
The guidance is structured around three key areas:
- Operational measures – Preparing organisational procedures and heatwave protocols in advance.
- Building and amenity measures – Iimplementing improvements ranging from low-cost interventions to larger building upgrades.
- Community resilience – Exploring how cultural venues can support wider communities during periods of extreme heat.
A key message throughout the guide is that adaptation does not have to happen all at once. Organisations are encouraged to start with manageable actions and progressively build their resilience over time.
Cool Off in Culture campaign
The publication is featured as part of the Cool Off in Culture campaign, a UK-wide initiative highlighting the role of cultural venues as safe and welcoming spaces during heatwaves. Alongside the campaign's map of participating venues and practical resources, the publication helps cultural organisations strengthen their resilience and prepare for rising temperatures while contributing to community wellbeing.
Further reading from NEMO
Museums looking to strengthen their climate resilience may also consult NEMO's publication Climate protection in museums. Developed by the NEMO Working Group Sustainability and Climate Action, the guidelines provide practical recommendations on implementing sustainability measures, conducting climate impact assessments, adapting to climate risks, and embedding climate action throughout museum operations and activities.
