Towards Sustainability in the Arts Space
15 May 2026 - Trwco 2026 — An ongoing series of events with arts and environmental performances and discussions curated by Small World Theatre and chaired by Jane Davidson
From our friends at Small World Theatre
Towards Sustainability in the Arts Space
Trwco 2026 — a gathering for anyone who runs, manages, programmes, tours to, or cares about theatre and cultural spaces.
We at British UNIMA are delighted to share news of Trwco 2026, hosted by our friends at Small World Theatre in Cardigan, west Wales. Small World Theatre is one of the UK’s leading near-zero carbon arts spaces — a working model of what sustainable, community-rooted theatre can look like. Trwco is their annual gathering that brings artists, venue managers, environmental thinkers and policy makers together around ideas at the intersection of creativity, science and climate action. This year’s theme feels urgent and timely: sustainability in the arts space.
If you work in theatre or outdoor arts — as a maker, producer, venue manager or touring artist — this is a day well worth your time.
Date and time 15 May 2026, 10am – 4pm
Venue Small World Theatre, Cardigan, Ceredigion, SA43 1JY
Cost£35 (£25 concessions) — includes lunch
About Trwco
Trwco is not a typical conference. Curated and hosted by Small World Theatre’s founding directors Ann Shrosbree and Bill Hamblett, previous events have included a guided walk through temperate rainforest led by a lichenologist, exploring lichens as indicators of climate change. This year the focus turns to theatre buildings and arts spaces themselves — how they respond to the climate emergency, and what comes next.
The questions at the heart of the day are ones the whole sector is grappling with: how do our theatre buildings respond to the climate emergency? What does decarbonisation mean in practice? How can programming and content support meaningful change? And how do we move forward together?
Arts venues large and small from across Wales will come together to share challenges, exchange solutions and chart a way forward for the sector.
Guest speakers
John E McGrath — Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Factory International, and former Artistic Director of National Theatre Wales.
Claire Appleby — Head of Theatre Buildings at the Theatres Trust.
Catrin John — Interim Director for Theatre Green Book.
Grant McFarlane — Manager of Swansea Grand Theatre and Brangwyn Hall.
The panel discussion will be chaired by Jane Davidson, Chair of the Wales Net Zero 2035 Challenge Group and author of #futuregen: Lessons from a Small Country.
Further panellists include Andrew Filmer, Senior Lecturer in Theatre and Performance at Aberystwyth University, and Judith Musker Turner, Climate Action Programme Lead for the culture sector at the National Library of Wales.
More than a conference
Alongside the speakers and discussion, the day includes a locally sourced lunch, a performance of ‘Piano Phase – Between Light and Dark’ by David Pepper, and a screening of ‘Momentum’ — a creative response to the building by aerial movement artist Dr Jess Allen. There will be space for conversation, connection and collaboration throughout.
Book your place at smallworld.org.uk
British UNIMA is proud to support and share news of Trwco 2026. For more information about Small World Theatre and their work, visit smallworld.org.uk.