The MU’s ED&I team were consultants on YOUROPE's Diversity and Inclusion Toolset for festivals. Image credit: Shutterstock.
YOUROPE The European Festival Association was founded in 1998. Today, it represents 125 festivals and associated members from 31 European countries.
The overall aim of the association is to strengthen and improve the European festival scene as a whole, to promote music and arts, and to connect cultures. By doing so, YOUROPE’s members want to inspire their audiences, cooperate with other cultural players, and contribute to the development of European society.
Diversity and Inclusion Festival Toolset
As part of its series of ongoing projects, YOUROPE has recently launched a Diversity and Inclusion Toolset for festivals.
The MU’s own Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) team were asked to contribute as consultants on the project and Dr Diljeet Kaur Bhachu, MU ED&I Officer is listed on the project’s advisory board, specifically contributing to items on anti-racism and diversity.
The toolset includes guides, tests, checklists, databases, toolkits, reports and action plans, drawing on different geographical and issue-based specialisms.
It also includes 13 case study stories about festivals and projects that are demonstrating good practice, to highlight them for other festivals seeking to progress.
Featured MU resources
The Musicians’ Census Musicians from the Global Majority Insight Report is included as a key data source on racial discrimination, reporting, and pay gaps, and the LGBTQ+ Musicians Insight Report is also featured.
A number of MU resources are included in the toolset’s section on Gender and Sexual Equity, including:
It’s important that festivals are open to everyone
MU Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Dr Diljeet Bhachu says: "We are delighted to have assisted YOUROPE with their Diversity and Inclusion Toolset. It’s important that festivals are open to everyone, whether that be audience, performer or team member.
"We know there is still much more to do to ensure that festivals and events are fully accessible and inclusive, and hope that these resources will begin to help pave the way for lasting change".