Ms Jessica Traynor:

This is probably the biggest problem. All of us have experienced those approaches from individuals about circumstances that have arisen. In my own case, this happened very recently. The reality is there are people who are experiencing this in their working lives right now while we are sitting here talking about what we can do to resolve it. There is really nowhere they can go because they do not feel supported. They feel disempowered. One person who spoke to me very recently said they would just keep their head down and tell younger artists to do the same because sticking your head above the parapet to speak up is too terrifying and pointless. This is the situation we are in. We need sustainable, well-resourced supports for people who experience situations that are contrary to their right to dignity in the workplace. They must have resources that they can approach in confidence, knowing they will be treated with respect and supported through due process. That is what is missing in the system in the arts sector, but probably in the wider community as well.