The ESB Creative Sustainability Award recognises creative partnerships that explore and highlight environmental and climate issues through artistic programming and sustainable practice.

Shortlisted initiatives raise awareness, open public dialogue, or encourage positive change around issues such as climate action, biodiversity, or the circular economy. This award honours the power of arts and culture in shaping a greener future.

Read more about the shortlist

The Knitting Map at 1 Horgan's Quay Credit: Marcin Lewandowski

Clarendon Properties, BAM Ireland and Jools Gilson: Mapping Climate Change

Clarendon Properties and BAM Ireland partnered with artist Jools Gilson to present Mapping Climate Change at the restored 1 Horgan’s Quay in Cork. Featuring Gilson’s Knitting Map and works from the US Tempestry Project, the exhibition transformed climate and weather data into large-scale textile artworks exploring environmental change through memory, community and place.

The project opened the historic building to the public for the first time and included a symposium bringing artists, scientists and sustainability practitioners together. Reaching more than 240,000 people through media and public engagement, it showed how cultural programming can activate heritage spaces and encourage meaningful conversations about climate change.

Bog Bothy 2025 Launch in Clara, Co. Offaly, Credit: Conor Healy 

Irish Architecture Foundation, 12th Field and Offaly and Meath County Councils: Bog Bothy

The Irish Architecture Foundation, 12th Field and Offaly and Meath County Councils created Bog Bothy: A New Peatlands Architecture to explore the future of Ireland’s peatlands during a period of environmental and social change. Developed with local communities, the mobile gathering space travelled between bog sites, supporting dialogue and learning around climate action and land stewardship.

Through workshops, building programmes and public events, the project engaged more than 2,000 participants, including residents, policymakers, ecologists and cultural practitioners. Reaching more than one million people through media and digital communications, it demonstrated how creative placemaking can strengthen community resilience and support climate-positive futures.

Philip Lee, Annie Fletcher, and Jonathan Kelly at the Earth Rising programme launch 2025 Credit: Leon Farrell

Philip Lee and IMMA: CICC at Earth Rising 2025

Philip Lee LLP and the Irish Museum of Modern Art partnered to present The Court for Intergenerational Climate Crimes as part of Earth Rising 2025. Bringing together contemporary art, climate justice and legal expertise, the project explored the historical roots of environmental destruction through exhibitions, live hearings, workshops and public events.

Supported by Philip Lee as IMMA’s first Pollinator Sponsor, the project generated 28 editorial features and reached more than 10.6 million people. By combining art, law and activism, the partnership created a powerful platform for public engagement with urgent environmental issues.

The Next Generation!  Credit: Patrick Browne 

ACT Waterford, Calmast SETU and Sean Corcoran: Crockery Mountain

ACT Waterford, through Calmast at South East Technological University, partnered with environmental artist Sean Corcoran and The Art Hand to create Crockery Mountain, a large-scale community mosaic made from thousands of unwanted pieces of crockery.

More than 150 volunteers helped create the permanent public artwork in Dungarvan, diverting thousands of items from landfill. The project also generated national media coverage and encouraged wider conversations about waste, reuse and consumer behaviour.

Best of luck to the 2026 nominees! 

Warmest wishes,

Louise, Valerie, Rachel, Melissa and Nina.