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Press release

September 27, 2019

The Cultural Human Resources Council’s Respectful Workplaces in the Arts (RWA) initiative released a National Code of Conduct for the Performing Arts with a public launch at Arts Court on September 27, 2019.

Today under the banner of Respectful Workplaces in the Arts (RWA), the Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC) released a National Code of Conduct for the Performing Arts. This Code of Conduct has been in development since early 2018 with the participation of the performing arts community across the country. At the launch event, the Great Canadian Theatre Company, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, the Ottawa Dance Directive and l’Association des théâtres francophones du Canada formally signed onto the Code, adding their names to the many dozens who have already signed, and inviting all performing arts organizations to do the same. For a full list of current signatories, please visit http://respectfulartsworkplaces.ca/code-of-conduct

The National Code of Conduct for the Performing Arts is a set of values, expectations and voluntary commitments developed by stakeholders in the performing arts. Each signatory is responsible for upholding its commitments under the Code. Each is encouraged to discuss it internally and embrace it as a foundational value document or adapt it to their own environments, to accompany and support their internal policies and legislated requirements relating to harassment.

In the words of CHRC Chair, Richard Hornsby: “CHRC is very proud to present this National Code of Conduct for the Performing Arts to Canadians, on behalf of the performing arts community across the country. We have led the process, but the words and spirit of this code are from the artists, cultural works and employers in the performing arts themselves. It has been a long process of consultation, write and rewrite, but the end result stands as a document to guide and inspire artists, cultural workers and employers throughout the performing arts - and perhaps to develop their own codes in their own organizations.

We are very grateful for the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Department of Canadian Heritage which has made this and the many other initiatives under the RWA banner possible.”

For a history of the development of the Code or to become a signatory the Code, see http://respectfulartsworkplaces.ca/coordinating-committee-and-working-groups)

For more information about Respectful Workplaces in the Arts , visit www.respectfulartsworkplaces.ca.

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About the Cultural Human Resources Council

The Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC) represents the broad cultural sector including the Live Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Crafts, Writing and Publishing, Music and Sound Recording, Film and Broadcasting, Digital Media, and Heritage. It addresses HR issues in the sector such as the training and career development needs of employers and cultural workers including artists, technical staff, administrators, managers and all others engaged professionally in the sector. As part of the Respectful Workplaces in the Arts initiative, CHRC has created and gathered valuable resources and tools to help deal with and prevent harassment; and is presently exploring a centralized reporting mechanism for victims of harassment, as well as support systems for employers who have to launch an investigation into harassment in the workplace. CHRC is also overseeing the development and delivery of workshops on Maintaining Respectful Workplaces across the sector and the country.

For more information about CHRC and its extensive programs, please visit our website www.culturalhrc.ca