Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

40. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on the work completed under the safe-to-create programme. [56831/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Last month, I launched Safe to Createwhich is a Dignity at Work programme aimed at bringing change on the culture and practices of the arts sector in Ireland. It is a framework of supports to assist organisations to provide safer working conditions for artists and arts workers. The programme is managed by the Irish Theatre Institute, on behalf of the Department and in partnership with the Arts Council, Screen Ireland and Minding Creative Minds. The planned outcome of the Programme is to transform culture and practices through training, information, voluntary compliance and certification, and provide key support for victims/survivors in the areas of reporting, counselling, and legal advice. I also announced funding towards this Programme under Budget 2023.

The Safe to Createwebsite marks the start of this programme of work by providing a Dignity at Work Toolkit for organisations and individuals in the creative sector and this can be accessed at this link www.safetocreate.ie/. This is a resource-rich website, featuring practical information, guidance, toolkits and templates for artists, arts workers and organisations regarding ‘Dignity at Work’ rights and responsibilities.

There is a 24-hour wellbeing and support programme provided to all of the arts, culture and creative sectors by Minding Creative Minds. It now has been enhanced to feature specialist trauma and abuse counselling for victims of harmful behaviour. The programme includes a free 24/7 dedicated phone line; confidential one-to-one counselling; and access to legal advice.

A training programme has been developed specifically for the arts and creative sectors on ‘Dignity at Work’ issues, including topics of tackling bullying and harassment, and unconscious bias (created in partnership with Screen Ireland). Bystander training with Screen Ireland is in development.

A Code of Behaviour has been developed that organisations are asked to adopt, to enable arts and creative organisations to create workplaces free from bullying, harassment and intimidation. The Code is accessible on the ‘Safe to Create’ website, along with a register of organisations and individuals who have formally adopted and signed.

The Irish Theatre Institute (ITI) is currently running a series of Code on the Road Workshops which will be going to four locations across the Island of Ireland over November. Further venues will be organised in the new year.

There are a number of items in development which includes a research programme of further study to examine the prevalence and impact of harmful behaviours in Ireland’s arts sector; as well as to measure the impact of the ‘Safe to Create’ programme.

In the coming months, ITI and department officials will be working with its partners to implement and promote these supports, to monitor the impact of measures taken and to collaborate with appropriate agencies to build effective monitoring, accountability and oversight mechanisms for harmful behaviour in the workplace in the arts sector in Ireland.