Accelerator | Julie's Bicycle | Arts Council Environmental Programme

The Accelerator Programme

Accelerator is a key strand of the Arts Council England Environmental Programme, working with two cohorts of up to ten organisations to advance their sustainable practice and share insights with the wider sector.

The programme looks at everything from touring models and audience engagement to design and supply chains, income generation and governance

COHORT 1: took place from October 2018 – March 2020

COHORT 2: runs from April 2020 to March 2022

Programme Prospectus

Key Information

Find out more about the impact of Accelerator in this insights blog.

Find more information about the Accelerator Programme in the FAQs section below.

ballerina with outreached hands in front of a large moon and trees behind her

New Adventures and ReBourne, Sleeping, Theatre Royal, Plymouth, 2015, Photo: Johan Persson

FAQs

What is the Accelerator programme?
Who is the Accelerator programme for?
What’s the difference between Cohort organisations and Associate organisations?
The Accelerator Programme is made up of two Cohorts of up to ten organisations or consortia.

Cohort organisations will want to:
- Build on their extensive experience of embedding sustainability into their practice.
- Stretch their ambition and action around sustainability.
- Develop their ideas into deliverable projects that can help shape a sustainable future.
- Make a greater impact by sharing learning, practice and replicable models throughout the sector.
- Work in a collaborative, open, curious and generous way.
Associate Organisations will want to:
- Do more with their sustainable practice but currently lack the expertise and resources to do so.
- Learn from case studies and the practice of other organisations.
- Try new ideas and help Cohort organisations to test new approaches.
What support will the Accelerator programme provide for Cohort organisations?
- A three-day training programme adapted from Julie’s Bicycle’s Creative Climate Leadership course
- Two days of tailored mentoring from a specialist mentor to help develop ambition, practice and thinking
- Two days personalised support from Julie’s Bicycle to help organisations achieve their plan
- Knowledge Exchange Support including an Exchange Day themed around relevant ideas and projects
What criteria can help my organisation chose a project or idea and how it might connect to the bigger picture?
Accelerator helps organisations find encouragement, focus, time and support to build on and develop existing or new ideas around environmental sustainability. These ideas will ideally connect their practice with at least one of the following international conceptual frameworks:

Nine Planetary Boundaries: The framework was first introduced in 2009, when a group of 28 internationally renowned scientists identified and quantified the first set of nine planetary boundaries within which humanity can continue to develop and thrive for generations to come. More information here.

Sustainable Development Goals: On September 25th 2015, countries adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years.

Circular Economy: In a circular economy, economic activity builds and rebuilds overall system health. The concept recognises the importance of the economy needing to work effectively at all scales – for large and small businesses, for organisations and individuals, globally and locally. More information here.

Doughnut Economics: Humanity’s 21st century challenge is to meet the needs of all within the means of the planet. The Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries is a playfully serious approach to framing that challenge, and it acts as a compass for human progress this century. More information here.

PICTURE – Header: JB facilitator during an Accelerator Programme retreat. Photo by James Allan