Climate resilience in the cultural sector with BFI and Bloomberg

As part of London Climate Action Week 2025, South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us were proud to co-host a climate resilience workshop with the British Film Institute (BFI) and Bloomberg Associates. The event was held at BFI Southbank during amber heat-health alerts across the UK and brought together nearly 80 representatives from London’s arts and culture sectors.

The workshop was attended by participants from almost 60 organisations, including independent theatres, cinemas, museums, and grassroots arts spaces from across London. Highlights from the day included:

• Launch of the climate risk maps developed by Bloomberg Associates, which overlay London’s 1,100+ cultural venues with flood and heat risk data, now hosted on the Julie’s Bicycle website.
• Launch of BFI’s Cool off in Culture campaign, encouraging cultural venues to provide refuge to the public during extreme heat.
• Case studies and sector insights from organisations highlighting the adaptation measures they are implementing. Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, for example, has adjusted show times to avoid peak daytime heat, while the Museum of Homelessness opens its facilities to provide shelter for homeless people during periods of extreme heat.

The event explored how the venues at the heart of South Bank and Waterloo and beyond can adapt their operations to these changes, as well as how they can play a role in supporting people by, for example, providing air-conditioned spaces to residents and visitors during heatwaves.

What is climate risk and resilience?

Climate risk is the potential for harm to people, places and nature as a result of climate change. In South Bank and Waterloo, that might mean increased flooding or overheating in homes and public spaces. These risks are growing as global temperatures rise and people who are already vulnerable often face the greatest impacts.

Climate resilience is our ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from changes we can’t avoid and taking practical steps to protect our communities. That might include planting trees and greening to cool the area and absorb rainwater, refurbishing buildings to stay comfortable in extreme heat, or making sure our streets and services are ready for more intense weather.

Photos from the Cultural Institutions Climate Resilience and Adaptation Workshop, courtesy of BFI: