Preserving the Past and Protecting the Future at Bradford Museums and Galleries

Posted 7 June 2025 Case study, News

Bradford Museums and Galleries are home to four of the most exciting museums and galleries in Yorkshire, from the Baroque splendour of Cartwright Hall Art Gallery to the spectacular building of Keighley’s Cliffe Castle Museum. SAIL have provided comprehensive support, working across the unique needs of listed buildings and collections to create a unified sustainability strategy aligned with the wider decarbonisation of the Bradford District.

To begin, SAIL conducted a sustainability audit to establish the current status of sustainability initiatives, highlighting successes to date and focus areas for improvement. SAIL then facilitated a series of  workshops to co-create an Environmental Sustainability Policy that resonated with their values and aspirations as well as being in alignment with local and international commitments on climate action. Building on this policy, SAIL worked with the team to develop a detailed sustainability action plan, translating the policy’s overarching goals into specific, actionable objectives, each backed by clear actions, designated responsibilities, and trackable metrics.

SAIL are also acting as an accountability partner, supporting the team with regular check-ins and providing sector-specific support and guidance, as well as access to our wider network of sustainability partners and solutions, to enable Bradford Museums and Galleries to deliver against their sustainability goals.

SAIL have been key partners in supporting our environmental sustainability values and aspirations. SAIL guided us through the process of creating a Sustainability Policy and Action Plan in a way that was meaningful and collaborative, with everyone across the organisation bought in. SAIL’s expertise and experience in the cultural and creative sector has been critical for providing ongoing tailored advice and support, ensuring we can deliver against our goals.

 SAIL have also been invaluable as advocates for the sector through building strong relationships with local and combined authorities to drive the changes needed for the whole region.

Elizabeth Llabres, Collections Manager