Reading for the Restless: Welcome session

Adhering to these agreements is a collective responsibility and everyone is individually responsible for checking their own behaviour.

The following list of agreements is not exhaustive and if anyone would like the list to be amended, we encourage you to contact us and help us to make our space safer for all.

If you are under 14, please make sure that you are accompanied by an adult (18 years or older) when attending our online events.

Racism, as well as ageism, homophobia, biphobia, sexism, transphobia, ableism, or prejudice based on ethnicity, nationality, class, gender, gender presentation, language ability, asylum status or religious affiliation is neither accepted or welcome.

Both physical and emotional boundaries must be respected including explicit verbal consent before engaging in any physical contact with someone or crossing personal boundaries.

Bring an awareness of the space you hold, the positions and privileges you bring, including racial, class and gender privilege and how these may affect others.

Never make assumptions on the opinions and identifications of other participants or audiences without kindly asking first and then engaging in active listening.

Make every effort in your interactions with others to not judge, look down on another or enter into competition.

Be aware of the language you use in discussions and exchanges and how this relates to others.

Work together to foster a spirit of mutual respect: Listen to the wisdom everyone has to share.

Give generously to each person the time and space to speak and share their thoughts and ideas. In discussions, raise your hand (or virtual hand on Zoom!) to speak, do not interrupt others, and be kind with your words.

‘Respect the person; challenge the behaviour.’

These agreements are shared by anyone who engages with Heart of Glass, either offline at our events and workshops, or online via our social media channels and events hosted on Zoom, Youtube or other platforms.

If someone violates these agreements a discussion or mediation process can happen with the help of another person, depending on the wishes of the person who was violated. If a serious violation happens to the extent that someone feels unsafe, the offending party can be asked to leave the online or physical space and/or event all together. Those present can nominate the person or process that can mediate if needed.

Heart of Glass is very grateful to the Social Art Network (SAN) for giving us permission to reproduce an edited version of this Safer Spaces Policy, originally published as part of their Social Art Summit in November 2018.