Let’s Change Culture: We need to celebrate more
There is power in noticing what’s already working
Through the Let’s Change Culture programme in Plymouth, a group of cultural organisations has been working together to explore the challenges of scaling our response to the climate and ecological emergencies. Some themes keep resurfacing.
Yesterday, I was in a room with a group of brilliant, bright, and deeply committed people running a large arts organisation. They were revisiting their environmental and sustainability strategy, bringing with them a huge catalogue of challenges—some seemingly insurmountable. The conversation began with the weight of the emergency, the desire for more progress, and the frustration of hurdles that felt too high.
Let’s be honest—this is how most of us feel when we think about these issues.
Starting with What’s Already Working
Our first activity was simple: reflect on what had already been achieved. What was working well? What had been learned? What had people enjoyed? What were they grateful for?
At first, there was hesitation. Was there really anything to say?
But then—reams of stuff.
What We Realised
We’re not telling our own stories of progress enough.
People in the organisation—and beyond—often don’t know what’s already happening. By sharing as we go, we make sure that change is visible and that momentum is felt.We’re pioneering more than we think.
This organisation was already doing more than many others, pushing boundaries, experimenting, and learning. That learning is valuable, and sharing it can strengthen partnerships and support the wider sector’s development.Focusing on progress reveals the next steps.
By reflecting on what’s working, we start to see what can be expanded, refined, and developed. Instead of feeling stuck in the challenges, we find clear directions for what’s next.
The Power of Celebration
It’s easy to get caught in the mindset that nothing is ever enough. But recognising progress isn’t about ignoring the challenges—it’s about fuelling ourselves to keep going.
If we want to change culture, we need to celebrate not just the destination, but the journey itself.
Yes, The climate and ecological crisis is vast, urgent, and overwhelming. Against its scale, the efforts of individuals and small groups can feel almost laughable—too little, too slow, too late. And yet, creatives across disciplines are shifting their work, responding to the crisis despite lacking funding, training, or deep environmental expertise. They are making changes, learning as they go, and finding ways to contribute.
But when the challenge is so enormous, it’s easy to believe that nothing is ever enough.
Many of us wrestle with that feeling. The sense that celebrating progress is self-indulgent, or worse, greenwashing. That the tiny steps we take are insignificant in the face of the crisis. That until the whole system has transformed, we should hold off on joy, recognition, or pride.
But this thinking is a trap.
Why Celebration Matters
1. It Keeps Us Going
No one can sustain effort indefinitely in a state of exhaustion, despair, and self-criticism. If we deny ourselves moments of joy, we drain the energy that makes action possible. Celebrating isn’t about pretending the work is done—it’s about refuelling for the road ahead.
2. It Strengthens Culture
What we celebrate, we normalise. When we lift up creative responses to the climate crisis, we shift expectations. We say: this matters, this is valuable, this is part of how we live now. And others take note.
3. It Acknowledges the Truth of Change
Change doesn’t happen all at once. It happens in increments, experiments, and cultural shifts that layer over time. If we don’t recognise and honour those steps, we risk missing the momentum that’s already building.
4. It Keeps the Dream of Living Well Alive
A sustainable world will not be built in our lifetimes. We will not be the ones who see the full transformation. That reality is hard to hold. But if we only focus on the unfinished work, we risk losing sight of what we’re fighting for: not just survival, but the possibility of thriving. Creativity, beauty, and joy are not just rewards at the end of the struggle—they are part of the culture we must sustain along the way.
The Art of Holding Two Truths
We need to get comfortable with two things being true at once:
Yes, what we are doing is not enough.
And yes, it is still worth celebrating.
Celebration is not a sign of complacency. It is a way to keep our energy, our community, and our sense of possibility alive.
So let’s celebrate—not as an ending, but as a practice that sustains us for the long, vital journey ahead.