Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy
Effective Date: March 2025
Organisation: The Arts Pledge
1. Purpose
The Arts Pledge is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work.
We believe that access to arts and cultural education should be open, inclusive, and representative of the diverse communities we serve.
This policy sets out our commitment to creating an environment where all individuals are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.
2. Legal Framework
This policy is guided by the principles of the Equality Act 2010, which protects individuals from discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics including:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
The Arts Pledge is committed to ensuring that our activities do not discriminate against individuals or groups on any of these grounds.
3. Our Commitment
The Arts Pledge aims to:
- Promote equal access to arts education and cultural participation
- Foster inclusive and respectful professional communities
- Celebrate diverse voices, perspectives, and artistic traditions
- Remove barriers to participation wherever possible
- Encourage representation from underrepresented groups within the arts and education sectors
4. Scope of the Policy
This policy applies to:
- Members of The Arts Pledge
- Event attendees and participants
- Speakers, partners, and collaborators
- Staff, contractors, and volunteers associated with The Arts Pledge
It applies to all organisational activities including:
- Events and conferences
- Membership programmes
- Digital platforms and communications
- Partnerships and collaborative initiatives
5. Inclusive Practice
The Arts Pledge will seek to promote inclusive practice by:
- Ensuring events and activities are welcoming and accessible
- Considering accessibility needs in event planning and delivery
- Encouraging diverse representation among speakers and contributors
- Providing clear channels for feedback and concerns
- Promoting respectful dialogue and collaboration
6. Accessibility
Where reasonably possible, The Arts Pledge will take steps to ensure that events and activities are accessible to individuals with disabilities or additional needs.
Participants are encouraged to inform organisers in advance of any accessibility requirements so that reasonable adjustments can be considered.
7. Reporting Concerns
Any concerns relating to discrimination, harassment, or exclusion should be reported to The Arts Pledge organisers.
Concerns may be submitted confidentially to:
membership@theartspledge.com
All concerns will be treated seriously and addressed appropriately.
8. Responsibilities
All members, participants, and partners share responsibility for upholding the principles of this policy.
Individuals participating in Arts Pledge activities are expected to:
- Treat others with dignity and respect
- Avoid discriminatory behaviour or language
- Support an inclusive and welcoming environment
Breaches of this policy may be addressed in accordance with the Arts Pledge Code of Conduct.
9. Monitoring and Review
The Arts Pledge will review this policy periodically to ensure it remains relevant and effective.
We will continue to seek opportunities to improve inclusivity across our activities and partnerships.rom the same organisation may attend in place of the original booking where appropriate.
3. Cancellation by The Arts Pledge
If The Arts Pledge cancels or reschedules an event due to unforeseen circumstances, including insufficient registrations or circumstances beyond our control, participants will be offered:
- A full refund, or
- The option to transfer their booking to a future event.
4. Exceptional Circumstances
We understand that exceptional circumstances may arise (such as illness or travel disruption). Refund requests in such cases will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
5. Contact
Refund or cancellation requests should be sent to:
membership@theartspledge.com