Learning and Sustainability
At The Hepworth Wakefield, sustainability is not only embedded in operations it’s a key thread in how we teach, engage, and inspire. Our learning programmes connect art and ecology, offering children, families and schools ways to explore environmental ideas through hands-on making, observation, and reflection. From recycled sculpture workshops to biodiversity-themed sketchbooks, environmental thinking runs throughout our learning journey.
What we're Doing
Using recycled and repurposed materials
Workshops use second-life materials wherever possible from packaging offcuts to surplus card and fabric. This approach encourages creativity through constraint, while keeping material impact low.
Delivering carbon literacy training
Staff across departments take part in certified carbon literacy workshops. These sessions build shared understanding of climate impacts and support more sustainable decision-making across the organisation.
Embedding biodiversity in creative tools
Sketchbooks for schools and families reflect the seasonal rhythms of The Hepworth Garden, featuring themes such as pollination, local species and ecological interdependence. They are designed to foster curiosity, care and critical thinking.
Connecting learning to the garden
The gallery’s public garden is a living classroom. Children are invited to observe, sketch and respond to the space using real-world natural materials, supporting sensory learning and place-based awareness.
The Challenge and What's Next?
Climate change and biodiversity loss are complex global issues but they can be made tangible through small, creative acts. The challenge lies in presenting these topics in ways that are hopeful, age-appropriate and locally relevant, without losing depth.
We’re continuing to evolve our environmental learning offer, with key areas of development including:
Expanding outdoor learning throughout the year
New formats and resources will support seasonal engagement in the garden, encouraging exploration in all weather and across school terms.
Strengthening cross-departmental collaboration
Tighter integration between learning, curatorial and sustainability teams will ensure environmental themes are aligned across exhibitions, events, and education.
Embedding the SDGs in learning narratives
We are exploring ways to introduce the UN Sustainable Development Goals as creative storytelling tools, enabling young people to see how their local actions relate to global change.
