As part of our shared effort to support the green transition in the cultural and creative sector, we launched the “Exploring Sustainability in Cultural and Creative Hubs” survey to understand how hubs across Europe are engaging with sustainability today. The survey aimed to define the skills gaps of cultural hubs’ operators, the sustainability barriers they come across and the needs they recognise when it comes to sustainability transition.

The survey results reveal a sector that is motivated and values-driven, especially when it comes to social sustainability. Hubs feel confident in their contributions to inclusion, education, and community wellbeing. However, their environmental efforts are still emerging. While sustainability is often part of the mission or values, many hubs lack the structure, dedicated teams, or tools needed to embed it meaningfully in daily operations.

The biggest roadblocks are structural: limited funding, lack of staff time and capacity, and infrastructural constraints - especially for hubs operating in shared or older buildings. Even when the will is strong, these conditions make it difficult to move from intention to implementation, especially while stakeholder engagement and internal skills gaps are also a significant issue.

Another key insight is that digital tools for sustainability remain largely untapped. Many hubs aren’t yet making use of data-driven or tech-enabled approaches that could make their sustainability work more efficient and visible. Most respondents also shared that while relevant skills do exist within their teams, they are often scattered or underutilized due to the absence of formal structures or dedicated roles. The skills most frequently mentioned as necessary include data literacy, resource management, creativity, empathy, and leadership.