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Toronto (ON) - Dr. Ben Todd (right), executive director of Arcola Theatre, Britain’s groundbreaking green performance venue, is the featured speaker for the 2010 Wendy Michener Lecture.

In his address, titled "Humanizing the Science of Climate Change: The Role of the Arts in Driving Sustainable Lifestyles", Todd will discuss the leading edge of eco-arts production and performance, and its potential as a catalyst for changing awareness and behaviour around the most compelling environmental issue of our day.

Arcola Theatre is one of Britain’s most innovative, exciting and respected arts venues. London’s largest theatre studio, Arcola is critically acclaimed for the excellence and variety of its programming, encompassing new and experimental works, classic drama, music and comedy as well as community and youth programs.

With the mission to become the world's first carbon-neutral theatre, Arcola is also a global leader in environmentally responsible arts production and performance practice. While winning accolades for its productions, the theatre is also reaping awards for its sustainability initiatives through Arcola Energy. It won the 2008 CBI Growing Business Green Award and was the Energy Globe UK winner in 2009.

Todd holds a PhD in engineering from Cambridge University and has worked in R&D, technical and strategy consulting on both commercial and government projects, including at Cambridge Consultants, Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems and Synnogy. As well as managing Arcola Theatre, he works as a technology broker for the Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Knowledge Transfer Network run by the UK Technology Strategy Board.

The Wendy Michener Lecture was established in the Faculty of Fine Arts at York University in 1987 in memory of Canadian arts critic and journalist Wendy Roland Michener. This free, public lecture provides a forum for discussion of crucial issues and developments in the cultural scene, past and present.

Admission is free  |  Map