You are working in the arts and are confronted with sexism, (sexual) harassment or power abuse

① What can you do yourself?

The possibility to act on your own behalf depends entirely on the situation. If a person makes you feel uncomfortable or their behaviour is inappropriate, and you feel in a position to address this to the person: do that. You have all the right to address this and put your own limits.

Tell this person it is not ok to talk or behave in the way they do. Explain why this behavior is problematic. Give the person room to reply. Propose it as a chance for change. Communicate clearly what you would like that change to be. Maybe, for example, you simply need an apology and see the person being willing to change?

It is of course possible that the severity of the situation does not allow you to continue working together. Maybe a third person can help in that case.

It is always advised to talk to a colleague you trust. This person can give advice and can support you.

② What can you do if you cannot address the problem by yourself?

While some problems can be solved with a one-on-one conversations, some instances are too severe or complex for that. In those situations you will need to be assisted and supported by an organization. If the situation concerns physical violence contact a doctor. Knowing that most artists work as freelancers and are only temporarily connected to institutions, you might need to evaluate different options that depend on the context you are working in.

If your work is in any way connected to an organization or an institution, it is advised to talk to a person in charge (i.e. project leader, employer, venue director,…). They might have a person within the organisation who is especially assigned to deal with these issues. This can be a confidential person, an prevention advisor specializing in psychosocial wellbeing, or an external service. The coordinates of these persons and services have to be present according to proper work regulations. Temporary co-workers should have received this information and be able to rely on the assistance it provides as well. In these conversations, the person you go to should first listen to your experiences. Then, you will likely discuss together the different options for action.

If none of the above described options are helpful or apply to your situation (e.g. if you are a freelancer, the experience has happened a couple of years ago, you don't trust your employer, ...) you can always contact the Flemish 'Meldpunt' (Support and Reporting Service) for Transgressive Behavior (NL/EN). This Meldpunt is a contact point for anyone who has experienced transgressive behavior within an organization or knows someone who has. You can turn to them for a listening ear, advice, and support to ensure your report receives appropriate follow-up. They have sector representatives for the cultural sector and the media sector. You can contact them via meldpunt@vlaanderen.be.

You can also turn to ENGAGEMENT. Our focus is primarily on the peer-to-peer approach: we believe there is a need for a cultural shift in which peers and colleagues stand up for one another. At the moment, we are mainly working on promoting this shift in mentality, but we are still available if you’re looking for the right kind of help or have a question and don’t know where to turn. You can contact us via the general email address: contact(at)engagementarts.be. Conversations can be held in English, French, and Dutch. PLEASE NOTE: The email inbox is accessible to the six-person team behind ENGAGEMENT.

If you are a member of a union you can contact them directly and ask for their advice. Especially in cases of contractual disputes they might be able to help. Unions can function as external mediators and provide juridical advice or support.

③ Do you want to share your experience with a community of artists?

ENGAGEMENT still occasionally organizes Open Meetings (in English), often focused on a specific sector. Keep an eye on our sociale media for upcoming events. These meetings are essentially peer-to-peer conversations rooted in solidarity, attended by artists. Together, we try — each time — to create a space for sharing and listening, in solidarity. We build that space collectively. It’s absolutely fine if you’ve never attended a meeting before; the space is open to new people every time. You can always register for a meeting via our email address: contact(at)engagementarts.be.

④ Specialized assistance

If the situation concerns physical violence: contact a doctor.

If you prefer to talk anonymously, you can call:

• 1712 (Dutch-speaking)
• 0800/98.100 (French-speaking)

Contact an organization that is specialized in helping victims of sexual violence:

• https://www.seksueelgeweld.be (Dutch/French-speaking)
• http://www.cawbrussel.be (Dutch-speaking)
• http://www.sosviol.be (French-speaking)