The last number of years have seen a shake-up in the performing arts. Abuses of power and harassment, racial inequity, misogyny, transphobia, biphobia, fatphobia, ableism, and other systemic barriers and stigmas have contributed to artists and patrons not feeling safe in artistic environments. Old models are broken. New standards are required.
Beginning in 2021, Project Director Robin Lacambra has been leading an intersectional team of research assistants and steering committee through the creation and development of a set of care-centred guiding principles to govern Industry and Hamilton Fringe spaces. The aim of these principles is to ensure the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of everyone in Industry and Hamilton Fringe spaces.
This process has involved discussion, research and development, consultation, and testing. It has resulted in the Internal Culture Guide, a guide to life in our spaces. These are standards, expectations of behaviour, and systems of accountability built to protect artists and patrons alike, and to ensure artistic environments that centre belonging.
The Internal Culture Guide will live on Industry and Hamilton Fringe websites for feedback and sharing, and will be re-examined annually to ensure relevancy. The Safer Spaces Project is currently creating a training program for Care Coordinators, which will be available online in the coming year.
Industry and Hamilton Fringe look to shift the idea of what an arts institution should be, offering environments suitable for a modern world. We believe there is a direct line from safety to confidence to risk-taking to innovation. If we aspire to be places of artistic innovation, it starts with safety. Our hope is that this work can be useful to other organizations and individuals.
