How Documenta is Redefining Sustainability in the Arts

Every five years, the city of Kassel becomes the global epicentre of contemporary art with Documenta—an event that draws over 800,000 visitors and spans vast exhibition spaces. Yet, behind this cultural spectacle lies a pressing question: Can an event of such scale, designed to be temporary, truly embrace sustainability? Documenta faces this challenge head-on, transforming environmental and social responsibility into a core part of its identity.

At the recent Green Museums Summit, Prof. Dr Andreas Hoffmann, Managing Director of Documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH, alongside Johanna Kohler, Head of Communication, Public Relations, and Marketing, and Larissa Huttenhein, Deputy Head of Production and Techniques, shared insights into Documenta’s journey towards embedding sustainability into every facet of its operations.

The Challenge of Sustainable Mega-Events

At the heart of Documenta lies a fundamental question: can a temporary mega-event, designed to accommodate hundreds of thousands of visitors and vast logistical demands, ever truly be sustainable? This paradox sits at the core of Documenta’s sustainability mission, shaping its strategy and inspiring innovative approaches to environmental and social responsibility.? Documenta has embraced this challenge head-on, aligning itself with international sustainability frameworks, including the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the climate targets outlined in the Paris Agreement. Beamish offers a related example of how to use the SDGs as an organisational framework.

Since 2020, Documenta has been a member of the Action Network Sustainability in Culture and Media (ANKM), a cross-disciplinary initiative supporting cultural institutions in their commitment to environmental responsibility. Through operational optimisation, material reuse, and a focus on accessibility, Documenta is proving that sustainability can be both a guiding principle and a practical reality.

A Holistic Approach to Sustainability

At Documenta Fifteen, sustainability was not treated as an add-on but as a cross-cutting theme integrated across all aspects of planning and execution. In partnership with Justus Liebig University Giessen and the University of Kassel, the sustainability strategy was developed around two core thematic areas and 11 fields of action.

Ecological Sustainability

Key ecological priorities included mobility, catering, infrastructure, exhibition production, and resource management. For example:

• Sustainability Euro Initiative: One euro from every ticket sold was invested in reforestation projects in Hessen and Indonesia, raising a total of €375,000.
• Sustainable Mobility: Visitors enjoyed free access to Kassel’s public transport system with their Documenta tickets, reducing reliance on personal vehicles.
• Sustainable Catering: A dedicated food market featured regional, vegetarian, and vegan cuisine, served exclusively with reusable tableware.

Social Sustainability

Social equity and participation were central themes. Initiatives included:

• Solidarity Ticket: Visitors could purchase a ticket at regular price and anonymously donate it to someone unable to afford entry.
• Accessibility Focus: Documenta worked to ensure physical and social barriers were minimised, enabling broader participation.

Circular Economy and Material Lifecycle

Exhibition production remains one of the most resource-intensive aspects of any large-scale event. Larissa Huttenhein outlined Documenta’s commitment to material reuse and waste reduction. This approach prioritises:

• Avoiding non-recyclable materials.
• Utilising second-hand materials.
• Collaborating with local partners, including repair cafés and recycling centres.

A significant innovation was the adoption of a reusable wall-building system, which has now become standard practice across Documenta’s venues, including Museum Fridericianum. Related guidance explores how to plan exhibitions around material reuse.

Partnerships for a Sustainable Future

Documenta’s partnerships have been instrumental in achieving its sustainability goals. Collaboration with Kassel’s SDG+ Lab has provided vital research and regional insights, while forestry initiatives in Reinhardswald have helped offset the exhibition’s carbon footprint.

Additionally, Documenta partnered with conservationist and artist Haley Mellin, funded by the Teiger Foundation in New York, to calculate and reduce the carbon footprint of exhibitions and organisational activities. The Guggenheim case offers another way to study an exhibition’s carbon footprint.

Visitors Embrace Sustainability

Documenta Fifteen’s visitor survey revealed overwhelming support for sustainability initiatives, with 90% of respondents expressing approval and 80% willing to accept slightly higher ticket or food prices to support further sustainability efforts.

Sustainability Beyond Documenta Fifteen

For Documenta, sustainability is not a one-off initiative but an ongoing commitment. Current efforts focus on ensuring sustainable production practices at Museum Fridericianum, reducing transport emissions through sea freight over air travel, and embedding carbon footprint calculations into organisational workflows.

Looking ahead to Documenta Sixteen, sustainability will remain a core priority, with lessons learned from previous exhibitions informing future strategies. The goal is not only to refine existing practices but also to pioneer innovative solutions that can set new standards for sustainable mega-events.

A Blueprint for Sustainable Cultural Events

Temporary events can leave useful infrastructure behind. Documenta’s reusable wall system makes that connection tangible: a production decision for an exhibition can also affect how later shows are built. The same planning conversation can include where materials will go, how visitors reach the venues and how catering is organised. These are different parts of the event, so bringing their owners together early is more useful than treating sustainability as a final check once the programme is fixed.

Prof. Dr Andreas Hoffmann, Johanna Kohler and Larissa Huttenhein from Documenta spoke at the Green Museums Summit 2024.