Arts Council England (ACE) has revealed that it will become the world's first arts funding agency to place environmental sustainability at the heart of funding agreements.

National portfolio organisations and Renaissance major partner museums will be asked to measure and improve water and energy usage as a minimum requirement going forward.

It is part of a commitment set out by ACE chief executive Alan Davey at the Tipping Point conference in Newcastle to 'embed' environmental sustainability into all programmes.

Davey also confirmed a new partnership with arts environmental specialists Julie's Bicycle, which is designed to offer practical support and advice to funded organisations.

"Investing to improve the environmental performance of arts organisations makes hard-headed financial sense," said Davey.

"The simplicity of these solutions matches the simplicity of the economics. It's a message we've been bombarded with for years - small changes can make a big difference."

Julie's Bicycle chief executive Alison Tickell added: "Arts Council England has shown visionary thinking, well ahead of all other cultural policies internationally, by making the environment a critical consideration for arts practice and business."

Details: www.artscouncil.org.uk