New Government initiative aims to change workplace culture for artists and arts workers and address bullying, harassment and sexual harassment.
Safe to Create, a new national initiative announced by Minister for Arts Catherine Martin last week (5 October), will present four workshops around the country this November to support arts organisations and artists in making creative spaces safe.
The new Safe to Create programme, which is managed by the Irish Theatre Institute on behalf of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in partnership with the Arts Council, Screen Ireland and Minding Creative Minds, has developed a Code of Behaviour for the creative sector so that all artists and organisations know their rights and responsibilities. The workshops, titled ‘Code on the Road’ will take place in The Everyman, Cork (4 Nov.), An Taibhdhearc, Galway (10 Nov.), Project Arts Centre, Dublin (11 Nov.) and Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo (14 Nov.).
The Safe to Create website contains a number of resources to assist those working in music and the arts, including advice on recognising abusive behaviour such as bullying, harassment and sexual harrassment and what steps to take; a number of training programmes (online and in person) developed specifically for the creative sector; details on the Code of Behaviour; and an FAQ section. Later this year, Safe to Create will also launch a confidential online reporting system called Report to Support.
