OFN's March Industry Call centred on the important subject of developing and implementing a Code of Conduct in your organization. Codes of conduct establish a set of expectations and acceptable behaviours for stakeholders in your organization. The ultimate goal is to ensure your festival or event is safe and welcoming for everyone. We celebrate and express gratitude for, Toby Whitfield, Festival Director at Capital Pride, for the work and time he put into delivering this webinar. Kudos for breaking down this complex process into bite size pieces and providing a framework for future policy writing goals. The key points discussed on the call:
Codes of Conduct could cover: BOD, Visitors/Attendees, Suppliers, Vendors, Sponsors, Staff, Artists/Performers, Volunteers. Depending on your organization's scope and needs, you may implement one overarching code of conduct or develop multiple codes of conduct for different stakeholder groups.
Key elements of code policy should include: Purpose Statement, Application, General Expectations, Unacceptable Behaviour, Enforcement, Consequences
The application of your code including the enforcement measures and consequences for breaking the code are unique in nature and considerations for your organization's size and capacity must be made accordingly.
Clear processes for investigating allegations are particularly important in the context of harassment and sexual violence.
Ensure you have a diverse group of people involved in the development of your policy to enhance inclusivity and organizational buy-in. (Are they representative of your event attendees and the broader community?)
Gather feedback from relevant stakeholders during the drafting phase. Consider working with another local Festival/Event or third-party to review for feedback. OFN can facilitate peer-to-peer networking.
A code of conduct is a living document that should be easily accessible, regularly reviewed and updated to changing needs and contexts.
A copy of the PowerPoint Presentation and a PDF version of the presentation is available for your reference. On slides 19 and 20, you’ll find links to additional resources and examples of Codes of Conducts related to this industry. For questions or additional resources, please reach out to membership@ottawafestivals.ca.
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