In light of recent events – including the murders of Sarah Everard, Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry, the Noel Clarke revelations, the work being done by Helen Raw / British Actors Network to call out abuse in the industry – how do we ensure safety for women working in the arts in Brighton & Hove? 

I’m really pleased to be able to announce a new pilot project across Brighton & Hove and the Greater Brighton area, as part of the ABCD Plan for Cultural Recovery, which aims to explore and address the issue of safety for women working in the arts and cultural industries. 

Born out of a discussion held by the cultural network What Next Brighton & Hove, this project will bring together women from across the sector and across the city to discuss how can we ensure all women (including trans women, disabled women and women of colour): 

• – feel safe within their working environment and the wider cultural landscape of Greater Brighton
• – have opportunities to contribute to the policy that directly affects them and other women
• – are offered opportunity and support to take on leadership roles 
• – have their concerns heard and responded to

Furthermore, in the longer term, how might the sector contribute to the wider safety agenda in the city, creating truly safe spaces for cultural workers and audiences alike?

The pilot project will include:

• – An inclusive working group to lead discussion
• – Research into codes of conduct, examples of good practice and principles
• – Development of a welcome pack for women cultural workers, visiting artists and companies 
• – A series of workshops for venues and cultural organisations 

The project has been funded as part of a Sussex wide bid to the Safety of Women at Night fund submitted by the Police & Crime Commissioners office, focussing on the Night Time Economy in Brighton, Worthing, Crawley, Chichester, Hastings and Eastbourne.  It will take place between January – March 2022.  

If you’d like to find out more contact [email protected]

Faith Dodkins

Project Lead