2025/26 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LISS1083 Culture and Sustainability

10 Credits Class Size: 30

Module manager: Alice Borchi
Email: a.borchi@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 1 Jul to 31 Aug View Timetable

Year running 2025/26

Pre-requisite qualifications

GPA of 2.5 (US) or equivalent and enrolled at a university

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The purpose of this module is to explore the interplay of culture and sustainability, identifying contemporary and future challenges in arts and culture. Arts and cultural organisations contribute to communities, regions and national economies in a number of ways. Despite these positive contributions they have been critiqued for practices that are seen as unsustainable. This module will introduce you to the concept of sustainable development, and explore case studies which highlight the challenges and successes as arts and cultural organisations aim to embed sustainability in how they work.

Objectives

The objectives of this module are:
1. to develop an understanding of theoretical underpinnings relating to culture in relation to different aspects of sustainable development.
2. To explore different real-life sustainability dilemmas that cultural organisations have to face in their work.
3. To develop a problem-solving approach in sustainability that is mindful of complexity and multiple perspectives.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. Understand key issues in sustainable development;

2. Understand the relationship between culture and sustainability;

3. Analyse real-life sustainability dilemmas in arts and culture.

Skills outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will be able to:

1. Develop problem-solving skills related to real-life sustainability issues;
2. Communicate sustainability issues.

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
Fieldwork 1 8 8
Fieldwork 1 10 10
Seminar 8 3 24
Independent online learning hours 15
Private study hours 43
Total Contact hours 42
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 100

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Each of the session will have dedicated time for students to work on their group assignment, receiving feedback by the module leader.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework
Assessment type Notes % of formal assessment
Group Project Group Presentation 100
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 100

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading List

Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list

Last updated: 18/02/2026

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team