Seçil has worked in the cultural sector for nearly 20 years and is the founder of Atölye Deneme Art & Ecology Association. She works on sustainability within the creative sector, focusing on learning through real-life practice and behaviour change. Through Street Music Festival, Earth Film Festival, Do Something Day, workshops and public programmes, she creates projects that make sustainable living part of everyday life. Read Seçil’s answers to our Q&A here:
1. What is the proudest sustainability achievement or moment of your career?
Daring to launch our first sustainable festival pilots and practices.
2. What was your worst ever sustainability-related decision, project or initiative and why?
No worst decision; we’re trying to build sustainable festivals within a system lacking the necessary infrastructure.
3. What are you excited about implementing this year?
Delivering Street Music Festival and Earth Film Festival with sustainable practices, alongside our Vision 2030 Climate Action commitment.
4. Which environmental issue do you most care about?
Ecosystems, carbon, climate justice.
5. What sustainable change have you made in your personal life that you are most proud of?
Public transport, need-based consumption, reducing plastic despite the system.
6. What do you read, listen to or watch to stay in touch with green issues?
Julie’s Bicycle, Vision for Sustainable Events, Creatives for Climate, Theatre Green Book, sector newsletters and sustainability blogs.
7. What is the most memorable live performance in your life?
I’ll give an answer beyond festivals and concerts. It will stay with me for life: on World Theatre Day, 40 days after the 2023 earthquakes, earthquake survivor women performed Tante Rosa by Sevgi Soysal. It was an unforgettable moment where every emotion collided at once.
8. Was there a moment you committed to taking action on climate change?
I can’t name one moment. After what we’ve lived and witnessed, not taking action feels impossible.
9. What is the most important issue to tackle at your events?
Travel, transport and waste.
10. What do you think is the most significant challenge for the events industry becoming more sustainable?
Resisting within an underdeveloped system while building sustainable resources.
11. Can you share something sustainable from another artist or event or company that inspired you to make a change?
Julie’s Bicycle and Theatre Green Book showed cultural transformation is possible.
12. What is the secret to your sustainable success?!
No secret 🙂 Being stubborn, trying, learning and continuing despite everything.
13. Tell us something you feel positive about right now that relates to the environment
Seeing more people and shared resources working for change in the creative sector excites me. The more I access this knowledge, the more I feel that real change is possible
14. Tell us a book, film or recent article you feel others should watch/read and why about positive change?
Tomorrow(Demain), Tony’s Chocolonely, and Charles Eisenstein’s book ‘The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible,’ all give me the same feeling: that small and brave steps, the power of imagining and believing, making different choices, and creating new paths can bring real transformation. Our behaviours, choices, and the connections we build affect each other and the planet.
15. Can you give people new to sustainability in events a top tip?
Don’t be afraid to take a step. Keep your courage and joy. Start, try, keep going.
16. What is the favourite festival moment of your career?
I can’t name just one festival; it’s the moments when excitement and learning along the way find their meaning.
17. What habit or practice has helped you most in your personal journey in life?
Keeping going without expectations, staying excited, quietly educating myself and being persistent.
18. Is there anything new or exciting you are planning or changing for the future that you can tell us about?
I’m excited to keep learning and improving sustainable festival and event practices through real-life experiences. It feels like an endless learning space 🙂 Then comes sharing, growing together and continuing to evolve.
19. Will we save the world?
I believe the Earth will renew itself no matter what. We are the ones who need help; we need to remember that we are part of it, move beyond denial, and act knowing there is no Planet B.
20. What would your sustainable super-power be?
Policy and behaviour transformer.
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This Q&A originally appeared in our May 2026 Vision for Sustainable Events newsletter. Sign up to receive monthly event sustainability news, case studies and guest blogs direct to your inbox.