The Latest in Sustainable Vinyl and Arts & Cultural Venues
Welcome to the June edition of Synthesise. We’re excited to bring you our latest Green Venue Certification Report - this time with a focus on arts & cultural venues. Also in this newsletter, we share insights from Neil Wilson’s (Suitcase Records) research fellowship, a case study on metal band In Hearts Wake, and bid farewell to our long-standing Chair Tracee Hutchison.
Grab a cuppa, find a cosy spot and enjoy. And don't forget, if you can, make a donation before 30 June and help us keep building momentum for a greener, more sustainable future.
Green Venue Certification Arts & Cultural Venues Pilot Report
Launched in 2025, the Green Venue Certification program helps venues measure, manage, and reduce their environmental impact while demonstrating their commitment to a more sustainable future.
This year, the program expanded beyond the music sector to pilot its certification framework across five arts and cultural venues across Australia – Courthouse Gallery+Studio, Geelong Arts Centre, Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre, His Majesty's Theatre, and The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre.
The Green Venue Certification Arts & Cultural Venues Pilot Report presents the findings from the participating venues, highlighting their sustainability achievements, key learnings, and opportunities for continued improvement. Read more here.
Emerging Sustainable Vinyl Manufacturing Techniques
Congratulations to Neil Wilson, Director of Suitcase Records, who has completed a Churchill Fellowship to research sustainable manufacturing techniques in the vinyl record pressing industry. The Suitcase team travelled across the UK, Sweden, Czech Republic, Germany and the Netherlands - visiting pressing plants, compound manufacturers, equipment suppliers and packaging innovators to understand how the sector can reduce its environmental footprint.
The resulting report offers a thorough examination of energy efficiency, circular recycling pathways, emerging compounds and the carbon impact of freight across the full vinyl production system. Suitcase Records have generously shared the findings with us which you can read here.
In Hearts Wake - From Environmental Anthems to Sustainable Action
For over a decade, Byron Bay band In Hearts Wake have built a reputation as one of Australian heavy music's most passionate environmental voices. Their albums Earthwalker (2014), Skydancer (2015) and Ark (2017), themed around earth, air and water respectively, all debuted in the Top 5 of the ARIA Albums Chart, with ecological and social justice woven through every release.
In 2020, they turned the mirror on themselves, overhauling their merch, physical music and business operations to align with the values they'd been singing about for years. Learn more about how they turned their environmental anthems into sustainable action.
Making Merch Sustainable Webinar
Hosted by The Music Sustainability Alliance (USA), our team member Luke Logemann, joined by the co-authors of the newly released Responsible Merch Guide, REVERB and The CSO Shop, were part of a panel exploring how music merch is being reimagined. From reuse and remanufacturing to supply chain innovation, and what it takes to align commercial ambition with genuine responsibility. Thanks Luke for taking one for the team by participating in this webinar at 5am! Watch the recording here.
Farewell to Tracee Hutchison - Chair of Green Music
Green Music Australia extends its heartfelt thanks to Tracee Hutchison as she steps down from her role as Chair after more than five and a half years of dedicated service. As a respected broadcaster, journalist and music advocate, Tracee brought decades of experience, deep industry relationships and a lifelong commitment to the Australian music community to her role. We wish her the very best in her future endeavours! Read more about Tracee's legacy here.
In The News
🍺 Major venues and stadiums are actively transitioning to reuse models ahead of the implementation of the NSW Plastics Plan 2.0. In WA, Optus Stadium and RAC Arena are setting a great example, offering reusable cups to punters thanks to state-led regulations. Learn more from this article by the Boomerang Alliance.
🎭 Creative Australia has published the latest research findings in their series exploring Australians’ attitudes towards, and engagement with, arts and creativity. This edition explores new topics including ethical sourcing and consumption of First Nations arts, ticket purchasing habits, how people discover books and music, and attitudes towards AI in creativity. Read the Results of the National Arts Participation Survey here.
🎨 Creative Climate has published a report on Risk Management of Climate Change Impacts for Australia's Cultural Organisations, along with key strategies for adaptation. Read the report by Isabel Charlton.
Grants
📣 Just announced: Music Australia’s Record Label Development Scheme to support holistic development and success of Australian music artists, and the Record Label Marketing and Manufacturing Grants to support marketing, promotion, manufacturing and distribution costs. Both programs close at 3pm AEST 4 August 2026.
⏰ Closing soon: Music Australia's Export Development Funds - International Professional & Artistic Development, International Performance and Touring, and International Market & Audience Development programs all close at 3pm AEST 7 July 2026.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Green Music Australia! You can follow us on our socials below.
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TikTok
If you’d like to help us grow our impact, you can sign up to volunteer, buy a t-shirt, or make a donation.
Green Music Australia is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia and Music Australia.
