Used Materials Platform: Reuse of Exhibition and Other Temporary Structures in Culture

The Used Materials Platform project addresses the issue of surplus exhibition structures, scenography, and other temporary installations that often go to waste after cultural programs conclude. The pilot project, based at the Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO), explores the potential for material reuse and circular management of items stored in the warehouses of museums and other cultural institutions.

The primary goals of the project include developing a methodology for reusing second-hand materials, establishing a digital exchange platform (for loans and/or donations), creating a digital manual on sustainable material management, and delivering a training program for cultural institutions and creators. Special emphasis is placed on measuring the carbon footprint of cultural productions and comparing the environmental impacts of exhibitions that use new versus reused materials.

The project’s outcomes will contribute to the development of sustainable practices within the cultural sector, encouraging a transition toward more responsible, circular, and climate-neutral operations among cultural institutions.

The project is funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia and the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy of the Republic of Slovenia through the Climate Change Fund, as part of a public call to promote sustainability in culture.