Fondazione CROSS has adopted an Event Sustainability Management System compliant with UNI ISO 20121:2013 for the 2020–2022 cycle. In 2026, the organisation started a new certification process, in line with the updated version of the UNI ISO 20121:2024 standard. The training and certification process is supported and funded by the Camera di Commercio Monte Rosa Laghi Alto Piemonte (Chamber of Commerce), as part of the SUSTAINEVENTS project, which promotes the transition of the local tourism and cultural sector towards sustainability – a transition being driven by the territories involved in the project, in line with the most advanced business models.

Fondazione CROSS operates in an area of extraordinary natural, cultural and aesthetic beauty. In this context, CROSS Festival is not merely an artistic project, but an act of care towards the places, communities and relationships that make each edition possible. Sustainability is an integral part of the organisation’s identity and serves as a guiding principle that informs every artistic, managerial and operational decision.

With this Declaration, we affirm what we believe in, what we are committed to achieve in the future, and how we intend to contribute to the well-being of the region and its people through CROSS Festival. It forms the foundation of our Event Sustainability Management System (SGSE) and serves as the ethical and values-based framework underpinning every project, every collaboration and every decision.

Our mission is to enhance the local area, generate positive impacts for communities and promote a respectful and mindful relationship with the environment. We organise CROSS Festival with the aim of producing art in a responsible, accessible and innovative way, integrating sustainability into every stage of the event’s life cycle and across all organisational functions involved.

We are committed to designing and staging the Festival with respect for the natural, urban and historic settings that host it; to reducing environmental and social impacts by preventing risks and promoting responsible behaviour; to ensuring the safety, well-being and accessibility of the public, artists, staff and volunteers; to contributing to the cultural, social and economic development of local communities; to operating with transparency, integrity and accountability towards all stakeholders; to constantly innovating through artistic, technological and organisational solutions that enhance the quality of the experience and reduce impacts; and to integrating sustainability into the governance, planning, communication and operational management of the Festival.

Our work is founded on clear values: responsibility in our artistic and organisational decisions; integrity and consistency between what we say and what we do; inclusion and accessibility for diverse audiences; care for the local area and its ecosystems; cultural and digital innovation; collaboration with institutions, communities, artists, suppliers and partners; transparency in communication and reporting.

Our sustainability principles guide every stage of the Festival: the ethical management of resources and the protection of natural and cultural heritage; the responsible use of spaces and the reduction of environmental impacts; attention to the carrying capacity of venues; inclusive and accessible design; social and local responsibility; the integration of climate risks into planning; the adoption of adaptation and mitigation measures; artistic and digital experimentation as drivers of sustainability; and the active engagement with and listening to stakeholders.

This project is co-financed by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund, the Italian Government, the Revolving Fund, the Swiss Confederation and the cantons under the Interreg VI-A Italy-Switzerland Cooperation Programme.