Pillar 2:
Ecological transition in the field of culture

Priority 15:
Integrating gender issues and ensuring gender parity in local cultural policies

How can cities, as service providers, create principles of safe spaces together? The city of Espoo has adopted principles for safer cultural spaces across all of its services, including libraries, cultural centres, the KAMU Espoo City Museum, 17 art schools and theatres, and concerts by the Tapiola Sinfonietta.

These principles for safer spaces, created through workshops with residents in 2022 and 2023, actively resist harm directed towards minorities and aim to make everyone feel welcome and safe in cultural spaces, with an active commitment to inclusion, accessibility and equality.

Examples of these principles include taking others into consideration by listening actively, offering help, and behaving in a way that does not cause harm, and showing equal respect to everyone, by embracing diversity and avoiding assumptions based on age, gender, disability or background. The principles apply to all visitors, customers, employees, and performers at Espoo’s cultural premises and events.

The 130 local culture and art NGOs that receive city funding are required to apply these principles across their work. Espoo is exploring collaborative ways to develop frameworks with them and to offer guidance on how to apply safer space practices in various contexts.

Staff received training in preventing harassment, promoting respectful behaviour, and embedding the safer space principles in daily operation. Many organisations now begin meetings by presenting the principles as part of their safety and inclusion protocol.