We’re excited to share that Circular Arts Network (CAN) has been highlighted as a case study in Circular Glasgow’s resources project! As part of their efforts to support businesses and organisations in adopting circular practices, Circular Glasgow has included CAN as an example of how resource sharing can be embedded in the creative sector and beyond.
How CAN Contributes to Glasgow’s Circular Economy
CAN was created by Sculpture Placement Group as a response to the financial challenges in the arts and the urgent need for sustainable solutions. The platform acts as a dynamic marketplace where materials, tools, and skills can be redistributed, keeping valuable resources in circulation and reducing waste. From art studios to construction firms, a wide range of industries have engaged with CAN to extend the lifecycle of materials and promote a culture of reuse.
In addition to providing a space for creative resource sharing, CAN has actively participated in initiatives like Step Up to Net Zero, where we developed a tool to calculate the carbon impact of materials within the arts sector. This has helped us, and others, to make more informed decisions about material use and sustainability in creative practice.
ACTS Toolkit: A Resource for SMEs and Organisations
Circular Glasgow has also developed the ACTS Toolkit (Assess, Commit, Transform, Sustain) to support SMEs and organisations in taking practical steps toward a circular economy. This toolkit provides valuable resources, case studies, and guidance on embedding circularity into business operations. Whether you’re an artist, designer, or part of a larger organisation, the ACTS Toolkit offers actionable strategies to help reduce waste and innovate with sustainable practices.
We encourage our community and all businesses to explore the ACTS Toolkit and take steps towards a more circular future. You can access it here: ACTS Toolkit.
Expanding Circular Practices Beyond Glasgow
While CAN was founded in Glasgow, our mission extends beyond the city. Through the development of the CAN Plugin, organisations across different industries can now integrate CAN’s resource-sharing model into their own websites, creating regional platforms tailored to their specific needs. By embracing circular practices, we can collectively reduce waste, support innovation, and build stronger, more sustainable creative communities. There’s already a CAN
We’re grateful to Circular Glasgow for featuring CAN in their resources project and look forward to seeing more organisations take advantage of circular solutions in their industries!
