“Ethical Markets Media Certified B.Corporation is honored to add our voice to this challenge from our late beloved Advisory Board member Tessa Tennant, to create the first public sculpture celebrating Green Finance, as a visual expression for this new direction for all financial activities worldwide, as Tessa expresses so well in the video message below.
As a longtime personal friend of Tessa, I can imagine nothing more perfect than a sculpture of our beloved Tessa Tennant herself, in all her tall, striking, elegant and imposing visual presence as a permanent reminder in the City of London!
~Hazel Henderson, Editor and CEO“
Help us Fund the World’s First Public Sculpture Celebrating Green Finance
I am delighted to let you know about a new initiative to commission the world’s first public sculpture celebrating green finance, launched at a Lifetime Achievement event for the late Tessa Tennant on June 28th, 2018.
Why Now? Make Green Finance More Visible
It’s now 30 years since the first environmentally responsible funds were launched, and for a long time, sustainable investing and its products were a niche market. Today, green finance or sustainable finance is critical to the global economy, as well as being a vital tool to deliver the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.
If we are to make green finance the transformational force it needs to be, it must become a celebrated and visible part of our culture – inspiring our norms and beliefs and the touchstones that drive our everyday behaviour.
Sculpture and the wider notion of public art, can often be the best way to depict complex notions, as it simultaneously speaks to our intellect and imagination. It can catalyse a deepening of thinking between individuals and communities and inspire us on what comes next.
“We need to be confident about placing visual markers in all the financial cities of the world to make green or sustainable finance more visible. Everyone should think about how they can support a more visual expression of green finance and how best to mark the next 30 years in a very powerful way.” Tessa Tennant, June 28, 2018
Making It Happen
The sculpture project in London will be funded by private and corporate donors and so far we have received pledges of over £35,000. This has allowed us to move to the main fundraising phase, where the full cost will be some £330,000, including artists fees, commissioning fees, planning, installation, insurance, maintenance, fundraising and event costs. A globally respected sculptor will be appointed at the end of October 2018, following a competition between four artists carefully shortlisted.
Governance of the Project
We have established a full governance structure for the project, made up of green finance, sustainability and art experts, which I am honoured to chair. CDP is acting as the Treasurer of the project and as a CDP project, through their charitable status, individual donations from UK taxpayers are eligible for Gift Aid. Finally, we are working with Modus Operandi, a consultancy specialising in commissioning high quality art in the public realm. They have worked on more than 110 projects, including pieces by Antony Gormley and many other well known and emerging artists.
Make a Donation
To make a donation, please click on this link: https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/cdpworldwidegiftaid which takes you to our fundraising page on BT MyDonate, and then follow the easy steps required. BT MyDonate accepts both individual and corporate donations in all currencies and they will send you a receipt, but the platform does not do refunds.
We would be grateful if you can make your donation by August 30th 2018, or as soon as possible. The sooner we can receive your donation, the sooner we can move forward with the next steps in the commissioning process!
Is Your Company Interested?
Funding this project is a unique opportunity to raise awareness and visually engage the finance community and the wider public – both present and future, on the centrality of sustainable finance to our common future. If your company chooses to support this project, it will be making a statement about its commitment to green finance and, by virtue of its contribution, will become a widely acknowledged partner in delivering a first-of-its-kind project that will become an enduring symbol of the green finance movement itself.
We expect significant interest from City firms with a direct involvement in green finance and if you think your company might be interested in donating, please contact Ciara Shannon ([email protected]).
We are excited to be working with the art world to expand our notion of the transformative power of global markets. More information can be found at www.greenfinancesculpture.org.