OutdoorArtsUK are saddened and frustrated by the racially motivated violence that is spreading across the country. We stand in solidarity with festival makers, producers, and artists, who are faced with the unrest fuelled by far-right misinformation.

We call on local authorities, police and security services to stand together and support the Outdoor Arts sector in keeping everyone safe. 

And we place our hope on audiences and volunteers across the country coming together. We are seeing many cross-community, voluntary clean-ups around the nation, and your spirit of collectivity gives us light in troubling times.

Carnivals, Festivals, and Melas are strong showings of togetherness, joy, and understanding. They will always be the beacon for opposition to hate.

OutdoorArtsUK are sending heartfelt gratitude and message of support to sector colleagues. They are keeping alive our hopes for humanity by bringing exceptional arts events to their communities.

But please keep safe… If the local advice and your judgement is to not to go ahead, this is also a valid decision.

Many of our colleagues have kindly shared stories of what they are doing to make their event a success in the face of extremism, and OutdoorArtsUK have gleamed through our dialogue to create a set of recommendations. We recognise it is not perfect but hope they will be of some use for those who are running programmes over the next days and weeks.

Recommendations

The below have been written with event organisers in mind, but it will provide useful context for visiting artists and contractors. Artists and contractors will find that Guidance 2, 3 and 4 are just as valid for you, and we encourage you to keep in contact with your liaison person at the event to ask questions and gain assurances. You should also pass on any information you have to your team including freelancers. It is important that you engage with everyone in your organisation periodically to make them feel safe.

OutdoorArtsUK will continue to update this guidance as and when further thoughts and information come through. We will thus keep on adding and amending this guidance. Any updates will be announced on our social media.

Should you wish to connect with OutdoorArtsUK, please contact us at any time.

1. Remain in close contact with your Police Force and Local Authorities Events Team

Police make up part of the multiagency process, and each event is assessed individually, which then contribute towards police risk matrix in terms of resourcing. This also reflects the number of security attached to the event. Many run control rooms with emergency planning and CCTV for any planned trouble they have received notification of.

CHECK:  

  • Who are your police operatives involved in the planning?
  • Who are your City or District Commanders?
  • Remind Security contacts about your event activities, where and when they are happening in full.
  • Are you able to obtain the risk assessment the local police and authorities have conducted?
  • Are you receiving proper briefing from Local Authorities and the Police in the lead up to your event? Are these being fed through to your staff and volunteers who are supporting your event?
  • Are security on any hotel and other overnight accommodation you have organised for staff, volunteers, and artists adequate?

Here’s useful guidance for artists and festival organisers on Staying Safe Amidst Far Right Violence. The guidance includes points of consideration on hotels that might house asylum seekers and recognising trauma.

2. Review your Incident Management Plan

The volume of unrest that has taken place so far means there are patterns to aggression, and there are elements we can learn from these. It is worth reviewing your Incident Management Plan to ensure you feel prepared to deal with any difficult situations.

One Key Message: Avoid provoking or obstructing the aggressors. Let the police do their job. 

3. Communicate assurances to your team, volunteers, local community groups and visiting artists

It is important to keep channels of communication open with your staff, volunteers, communities, and visiting artists as a way of supporting and motivating them. Their fears and concerns are real, particularly from those who are people of colour, and it is important to respect any decisions they might make. You may wish to provide specific safe space for people to voice their concerns.

Artists and contractors coming in from outside of your area may require additional assurances and have the context of the local area explained to them. If they have a team of people, please encourage them to share information you give to the rest of their team including freelancers.

CHECK: 

  • What are your stakeholders’ concerns going into the event?
  • Are these concerns addressed in the assurances from relevant authorities?
  • Are you able to make additional provision to address these concerns?
  • Does your Incident Management Plan address all these concerns?

Keeping record of point 1 and point 2 are also important for any evaluation that might take place after the event.

There is some further reading you can do too in terms of messaging: Far Right Violence – a messaging guide.

4. Speak with your Insurance provider about what your policy covers

 OutdoorArtsUK contacted our own broker Wrightsure to seek advice, who said: 

  • Any damage to buildings or equipment will be claimable even if you go ahead with your event during this time of unrest.
  • The claim should be submitted as soon as possible, as different insurers have different windows where a claim is valid.
  • If you cancel your event and you have a cancellation policy that includes costs and expenses claims in your insurance plan, then you should be able to claim on any expenses you still have to pay out even though your event is cancelled (e.g. artist and freelancer fees).
  • If it is a ticketed event then you can claim loss of income, again only if you have appropriate cancellation policy.

The Association of British Insurers have also released a statement: 

 “Insurers appreciate that this is an incredibly stressful time and will be on hand to do everything they can to help customers as quickly as possible,’ says trade body”

 Read it in full here to find out what they said.

Further reading

  • Arts Council England has released a statement of support and flexibility to funding agreements in the light of disturbances. Click here to read in full.
  • The Runnymead Trust has released an open letter to the Government to change the discourse on racism and Islamophobia. Click here to read in full.