Skip to main content

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy

POLICY STATEMENT

PROTECTED CHARACTERISTICS
Riverbank Arts Centre actively seeks to ensure equality in terms of access to our arts centre,
our programme and engagement with the arts, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age,
orientation, membership of the Traveller Community, socio-economic status, family or civil
status, disability, or religion.

INTERSECTIONALITY
We recognise that people cannot be neatly compartmentalised into protected
characteristics, and that multiple factors can, and do, intersect to amplify exclusion from
engaging with the arts or developing an artistic practice.

OUR COMMITMENT & VALUES
Riverbank Arts Centre is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable and diverse
environment for everyone. We believe that art and culture presented, supported or created
by Riverbank Arts Centre should reflect the diversity of contemporary Ireland, and should
engage and inspire people to get involved and feel part of the arts.
Equity, diversity and inclusion are core values throughout our organisation. We believe that
it is our responsibility to make our programme and our spaces as welcoming and
representative as possible, to as many people as possible.

Scope
We believe that the values of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion should be embedded at
all levels of our organisation. This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, artists,
participants, visitors, and stakeholders including, but not limited to:
● the artists that we work with, support, co-produce and commission
● the artistic programme we present on our stages and in our galleries
● the presenting partners, organisations and co-producers that we work with
● the audiences and communities who we welcome to events
● the audiences and communities who are not currently engaging with our programme
● our board of directors
● our management team and Front of House, Box Office & technical team

Principles & Objectives
We strive to address perception, representation and accessibility barriers in all aspects of
our work. Our work in this area is guided by the following EDI principles:
● Equity and the creation of a safe, respectful environment for all
● Access and participation
● Cultural awareness and on-going learning
We aim to follow and implement these guiding principles in a number of key areas:
● Programming and audience engagement
● Governance and Leadership
● Employment and Workplace Practices


REFERENCES:
The Arts Council’s Equality, Human Rights & Diversity Policy and Strategy
The Arts Council’s Equality, Diversity & inclusion Toolkit
Employment Equality Acts (1998–2015)
Equal Status Acts (2000–2018)
Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Act 2014
SAFE TO CREATE Dignity at Work programme
Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 31:

  1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities
    appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.
  2. States Parties shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life
    and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and
    leisure activity.
    https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child

This Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policy was researched and devised by members of Riverbank Arts Centre board, executive and team, in consultation with key support
organisations, companies and artists.
This Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policy was adopted by the board of Riverbank Arts Centre in Sept 2024 and published on our website. It is due for review in January 2026.
This Policy will be accompanied by an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy & Implementation Plan 2025-2028.