Code of Conduct

Harrassment Policies

Privacy Policy

Photography, Audio, And Video Consent and Recording Policies

Meeting Safety & Responsibility Policy

Meetings & Events "Green" Policy

 

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Code of Conduct

Americans for the Arts (AFTA) is committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all meeting participants, including all virtual/online events. All participants, including but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, Americans for the Arts staff, service providers, and others are expected to abide by the AFTA Code of Conduct.

This Code of Conduct applies to all Americans for the Arts spaces, including, but not limited to, AFTA’s online community platforms, online and in-person trainings, social media, conferences, and events. Anyone who violates this Code of Conduct may be sanctioned or expelled from these spaces at the discretion of AFTA.

Some spaces and events may have additional rules in place, which will be made available to participants in the policy and procedures document related to that event. Participants are responsible for knowing and abiding by these rules.

Expected Behavior:

AFTA expects that community members will:

• Be considerate and respectful to all community members.
• Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior, materials, and speech.
• Speak up if they observe anything at an event that conflicts with this Code of Conduct.
• If you are being harassed or feel uncomfortable, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the AFTA staff immediately.

Inappropriate behavior includes, but is not limited to:

• Discriminatory actions or offensive comments related to race, color, religion, creed, partnership status, caregiver status, credit history, status as a victim of sexual assault or stalking, unemployment status, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual and other reproductive health decisions, sexual orientation, marital status, gender expression or identity, age (18 and over), national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, familial status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status, status as a victim of domestic violence, uniformed servicemember status, GINA, certain arrest or conviction records or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws in its programs and activities.
• Intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning speech, materials, or conduct by any participants of the event and related event activities.
• Unwelcome comments regarding a person’s lifestyle choices and practices, including those related to food, health, parenting, drugs, and employment.
• Deliberate misgendering or use of “dead” or rejected names.
• Unwelcome sexual attention.
• Gratuitous, off-topic sexual images or behavior in spaces where they are not appropriate.
• Any boisterous, lewd, or offensive behavior or language, including but not limited to using sexually explicit or offensive language, materials or conduct, or any language, behavior, or content that contains profanity, obscene gestures, or racial, religious, or ethnic slurs.
• Threats of violence in any format.
• Incitement of violence towards any individual, including encouraging a person to commit suicide or to engage in self-harm.
• Deliberate intimidation or stalking of any kind – in-person or online.
• Harassing, inappropriate, or unauthorized photography or recording, including logging online activity for harassment purposes within or outside the event environment for any use without the prior permission of the individuals or owners of the content therein.
• Publication of any private communication.
• Sustained disruption of discussion including one-on-one communication if requested to cease.
• Failure to obey any rules or regulations of the event or venue/virtual space.
• Failing to stop unacceptable behavior when requested by a Participant or AFTA.
• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.

Discrimination/Harassment is not:

• Feeling persecuted for your social privilege.
• ‘Reverse’ -isms, including ‘reverse racism,’ ‘reverse sexism,’ and ‘cisphobia’
• Reasonable communication of boundaries, such as “leave me alone,” “go away,” or “I’m not discussing this with you.”
• Refusal to explain or debate social justice issues when the person being asked is put in a defensive position based on their lived experience, personal identity, or safety.
• Communication in a ‘tone’ you do not find congenial.
• Discussion of sensitive topics.
• Criticizing racist, sexist, cissexist, or otherwise oppressive behavior or assumptions.

Reporting Unacceptable Behavior:

Any Participant whose safety is threatened, violated, or placed in immediate danger is urged to contact local law enforcement immediately. In addition, any Participant who feels unsafe or experiences unwelcome conduct, who observes or experiences unacceptable behavior, or who believes there has been a violation of this Policy, is encouraged to contact AFTA immediately either in-person, by calling AFTA at 202-371-2830 or by asking for the Program lead and/or Meetings and Event lead by name, or by sending an e-mail to [email protected]  Reports may be anonymous or attributed.

AFTA will use its best efforts to respond to a Participant in no more than 3 hours during event days and one business day when content is available on demand, recognizing that it will not be possible to follow up directly with a Participant whose report is anonymous, and that AFTA may have less ability to investigate fully an anonymous report.

Consequences of Reported Unacceptable Behavior:

Upon receiving a report of unacceptable behavior, AFTA’s first priority will be the safety and security of Participants. In order to preserve a safe environment, AFTA reserves the right to temporarily suspend or terminate specific features available to a Participant or to suspend or terminate the Participant’s entire account/participation. When facts are in dispute or cannot be fully established, AFTA reserves the right to take the action most likely to maintain safety and security of all Participants. A report of an adjudicated or officially confirmed history of a Participant’s prior unacceptable behavior, if impacting the experience of other Participants at an AFTA event may, in AFTA’s discretion, be the basis for a response under this Policy. Violation of this Policy, as determined by AFTA in its sole discretion, is grounds for any action deemed appropriate, including but not limited to warning the offender, denying, suspending, or terminating the offenders access to an AFTA event, barring the offender from other AFTA events.

Any person who is denied access to or whose access is terminated during an AFTA Event based on this Policy may request that AFTA review the matter after the event has concluded. However, AFTA’s action will be effective immediately and will continue until and unless AFTA issues a contrary decision. Any person who is denied access to or removed from an AFTA event based on this Policy will not be eligible for a refund of any registration fees paid for access to or participation in the Event.

Communication from AFTA:

AFTA will communicate with an individual who reports unacceptable behavior if the individual chooses to submit an attributed report. AFTA will also communicate with an individual concerning whom a report has been made, to the extent that AFTA is able to identify and contact that individual. The nature, scope, and content of any such communication is in the sole discretion of AFTA. If warranted, AFTA may communicate more broadly with Participants during an AFTA Event. AFTA has the right to communicate about its responses under this Policy to the employers or sponsors of involved Participants vendors, local law enforcement, media, and the public as AFTA deems reasonable, necessary, and appropriate.

Harrassment Policies

Definition of Harassment

Harassment is any behavior which causes distress, feelings of a lack of safety, or physical harm to another person based on their actual or perceived race/ethnicity, religion, age, gender, gender expression or identity, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, citizenship status, geography, place of origin, marital status, or familial status. Additionally, any kind of sexual harassment against anyone, regardless of the identities of the people involved, is covered by the policy below. Harassment does not need to have malicious intent; the impacts on the person reporting the harassment must be addressed regardless of the intent. Displays of derogatory or offensive pictures, graffiti, or materials towards people because one of the identities listed above; demeaning remarks, jokes, innuendos about an employee, participant or volunteer; or remarks about an identity group in the presence of any individual, not necessarily a member of the group mentioned, are also forms of harassment.

Harassment is not:

Consensual banter or romantic peer relationships, where the people involved consent to the interaction, are not harassment. Appropriate performance reviews, constructive feedback and critique, counseling, or discipline by a colleague or supervisor are not harassment.

Responsibilities of Employees and Board Members

All employees, board members, volunteers and program participants are responsible for fostering a safe working environment, free of harassment. A safe working environment is one where everyone is accepted and allowed to be themselves. No one should be afraid for their physical or mental health in a safe working environment. A safe working environment is not free of all criticism or conflict, but those things are handled with respect. Everyone must set an example of appropriate behavior and must report situations of harassment immediately on becoming aware of them, whether or not there has been a complaint. Americans for the Arts, The Board of Directors and any employees who are complicit in harassment are legally liable for any harassment that occurs even if they were not actually involved in the harassment.

Employees and Board Members, who do nothing to prevent or stop harassment or to mitigate its effects may find themselves facing consequences or putting Americans for the Arts in legal jeopardy.

Responsibilities of Volunteers and Program Participants

All volunteers and program participants have the responsibility to treat each other with respect and to refrain from discrimination and harassment. They are encouraged to speak up if they or someone else is being harassed and are encouraged to report harassment to the appropriate person.

1. When Involving Staff in the Workplace:

Our employee Workplace Harassment policy is available in our employee handbook. You can also find it on our intranet and below.

Workplace Harassment

Americans for the Arts is committed to providing a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. Actions, words, jokes, or comments based on an individual's race, color, creed, religion, gender and gender identity or expression (including transgender status), national origin, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic will not be tolerated.

Sexual harassment is defined as clearly unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

• Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment;
• Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for employment decisions affecting such individual, and;
• Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.

Unlawful harassment based on protected characteristics other than gender and gender identity is also prohibited. Harassment based on categories other than gender and gender identity can be defined as verbal or physical conduct that is intended to denigrate or show hostility or aversion toward a protected group or against an individual because of membership in such a group, when that conduct:

• Has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment;
• Has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance, and;
• Otherwise adversely affects an individual’s employment opportunities.

Conduct that constitutes unlawful harassment on the basis of an individual’s legally protected characteristics includes, but is not limited to:

• Epithets, slurs or negative stereotyping;
• Threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts based on an individual’s membership in a protected class;
• Denigrating jokes, cartoons, or pictures based on legally protected characteristics, and;
• Display or circulation in the workplace of written or graphic material (including e-mail) that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group based on a protected category.

Any employee who experiences, witnesses, or becomes aware of an incident of sexual or other unlawful harassment should promptly bring it to the attention of his or her supervisor. If the supervisor is unavailable or the employee believes it would be inappropriate to contact that person, the employee should immediately contact the human resources manager, the vice president of operations, or the chief operating officer. Employees can raise concerns and make reports without fear of reprisal or retaliation.

Similarly, any member of staff who becomes aware of possible sexual or other unlawful harassment of an employee, temporary employee, or intern by a member, vendor, donor, or other third party should promptly advise the human resources manager, the vice president of operations, and/or the chief operating officer who will ensure that the matter is investigated and resolved in a timely and effective manner.

Management will make a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation of all allegations of sexual or other harassment. If the results indicate that an employee or third party has engaged in sexual or other harassment or retaliation, he or she shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Subject to our need to thoroughly investigate claims of sexual or other harassment, such claims will remain as confidential as possible. All employees should act responsibly and truthfully in making and responding to allegations, and providing information in an investigation. As provided by law, management will not retaliate against an employee for exercising his or her right to report harassment or for assisting in an investigation of a harassment allegation.

2. When Involving a Board Member:

Board members receive the following harassment policy in their materials each year.

The Board of Directors is committed to maintaining an environment that is free from sexual harassment. Directors should not engage in conduct that may create a sexually hostile environment for any person, director, or staff, including: making offensive comments, distributing offensive materials, or engaging in inappropriate physical contact. Any director who believes this policy has been violated should notify the chairman of the board or the chair of the Board Operations & Leadership Committee.

As with item #1, should a staff member experience, witness or become aware of an incident of sexual or other unlawful harassment involving a board member (including the Americans for the Arts, Arts Action Fund, Americans for the Arts Foundation, Arts & Business Council of New York Board of Directors), promptly bring it to the attention of his or her supervisor and/or human resources, the vice president of operations or the chief operating officer. Employees can raise such concerns and make reports without fear of reprisal or retaliation. The chair of the Board and the chair of the Board Operations & Leadership will work with management on a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation of all allegations of sexual or other harassment. If the results indicate that a board member has engaged in sexual or other harassment or retaliation, he or she shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of board service.

3. Internal Activity Involving a Volunteer or Program Participant

Should a staff member experience, witness or become aware of an incident of sexual or other unlawful harassment involving a volunteer of the organization or participant in one of our programs, he or she should promptly bring it to the attention of his or her supervisor and/or human resources, the vice president of operations or the chief operating officer. Employees can raise such concerns and make reports without fear of reprisal or retaliation. Management will conduct a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation of all allegations of sexual or other harassment. If the results indicate that a volunteer (for example a network council member) or program participant has engaged in sexual or other harassment or retaliation, he or she shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of council service or the ability to participate in our programs in the future.

4. When A Volunteer is Accused of Harassment Unrelated to Americans for the Arts

When a volunteer of Americans for the Arts has been accused of harassment or misconduct in an incident(s) not involving our organization, we have no legal standing to address the matter. We do, however, have the responsibility of determining if there should be a continued professional relationship with that individual. To make that determination, we will evaluate validated information in the public domain and, in concert with our written values statement, will consider appropriate action. Examples of a volunteer could include a member of our Artists Committee, Business Committee for the Arts, or an Elected Leadership Council Member.

In these cases, Americans for the Arts will not serve as an investigative body, but will assess the allegations and to determine an appropriate response by focusing on three primary questions:

1. Would maintaining an affiliation with the accused stand in direct conflict with Americans for the Arts adopted policies and values?
2. Is the accused compromised in their ability to advance the mission of Americans for the Arts? Is that a temporary or permanent impact?
3. Would maintaining an affiliation with the accused detrimentally hurt the Americans for the Arts brand?

The following questions may also be appropriate when responding to an allegation of harassment. This list is not all-inclusive, and other factors may be considered as appropriate given the facts of any situation.

• Has a criminal lawsuit been filed, settled or adjudicated?
• Has a civil lawsuit been filed, settled or adjudicated?
• Has a formal complaint been made to a workplace or other authority and what action was taken?
• Has there been an opportunity for the accused to respond to the allegations? What has been the nature of the response?

Process for Determining a Continued Relationship with a Volunteer

If a situation occurs in which a volunteer is accused of harassment or misconduct apart from their work with Americans for the Arts, the Chief Operating Officer should be notified immediately. Per legal review, when considering the continued relationship with a volunteer, a response is at the discretion of Americans for the Arts based on the written values of the organization. The decision to remove a volunteer from our work will not be done without great consideration. Often, we do not know all of the details in a matter and are made to cast judgment based on what is in the media. The Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the President & CEO, will make a decision about whether or not the situation requires the temporary or permanent removal of the volunteer from the Artists Committee, Leadership Council, or other relevant body. The decision could take one of three forms: temporary removal from a committee, permanent removal from a committee, or no change in the relationship.

A volunteer may be taken temporarily off one of our committees if there is a pending external investigation regarding a matter that is deemed to cause harm to Americans for the Arts. A person may be held in this temporary status indefinitely on a case by case basis until it is decided that the volunteer may return to the committee or be removed permanently. The decision to permanently remove a volunteer from a committee will depend on the outcome of the external investigation, the volunteer’s actions, and examination of whether the relationship would cause perceived damage to Americans for the Arts.

If the decision is made to alter our relationship with the volunteer, the Chief Operating Officer will notify the staff lead of the Artists Committee, Leadership Council or similar body. It is that staff person’s responsibility to temporarily or permanently remove the name of the volunteer from all active official lists including on our website and database to ensure no further invitations and solicitations will be sent.

If the volunteer is active in our work, the Chief Operating Officer or a determined appropriate staff member may reach out to the volunteer or volunteer representation regarding the decision. If the volunteer is not active in our work currently, the person will be removed from our lists without notification. In this case “active” means that the volunteer has participated in at least two Americans for the Arts programs, written at least one blog, and/or tweeted on our behalf at least three times over the past two years.

If the decision is made to continue the relationship, no further action is needed. That is, unless this decision is made to reinstate an active volunteer after s/he had been notified of being temporarily removed. In this case, the volunteer would be notified of reinstatement.

It is not always appropriate or necessary to communicate when an accusation has been made or a change in a relationship with a volunteer has been determined. Staff may be informed of decisions in an appropriate manner at the discretion of the Chief Operating Officer and President & CEO.

Privacy Policy

Americans for the Arts takes privacy seriously. The information we may collect via interaction and transactions with AFTA is used to provide you with services which you have requested from us. By submitting information online, in writing, or other methods of transaction, you consent to share your data in accordance with the guidelines of our privacy statement. Registrant contact information will be shared with other Conference registrants through the Participants List. We do offer an opt out indicator on forms/ applications if that information is scheduled to be shared if signing up or registering for specific events or products. To learn more, visit: www.AmericansForTheArts.org/privacy.

Photography, Audio, And Video Consent and Recording Policies

Attendance or participation in Americans for the Arts meetings and events or other activities constitutes an agreement by the registrant or attendee to Americans for the Arts’ use and distribution (both now and in the future) of the registrant or attendee’s image and voice in photographs, audio, video, and electronic reproductions of such events and activities by Americans for the Arts and other third parties, including but not limited to the venue and local host.

Events, functions, sessions, and award ceremonies hosted and/or produced by Americans for the Arts may not be recorded, either in video or audio format, by any organization, entity, or person without the expressed written consent of Americans for the Arts. Consent to record Americans for the Arts events will be given to credentialed press as requested and will be coordinated by Americans for the Arts staff. Many of our events and sessions are recorded by Americans for the Arts either through photographs or video.

Meeting Safety & Responsibility Policy

Americans for the Arts is committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all meeting participants. All participants, including but not limited to, attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, Americans for the Arts staff, service providers, and others are expected to abide by the Meeting Safety & Responsibility Policy. This Policy applies to all Americans for the Arts meeting-related events, including those sponsored by external organizations but held in conjunction with Americans for the Arts events, in public or private facilities.

Meetings & Events "Green" Policy

Americans for the Arts is committed to environmentally friendly practices at all our meetings and events. To achieve this goal and to do our part to minimize our negative impact on the environment we always strive toward reducing waste, reusing materials, and purchasing products that have been repurposed.

We ask for active participation from all our attendees in this effort and hope that they will share their thoughts and feedback with us to help improve our practices, as well as increase their personal commitment to care for the environment.

More specifically, we:

Décor

• Strive to use reusable signs that can be utilized over and over
• Any event specific signs that are created for limited use are either printed on recycled materials, or material that is recyclable.

Food & Beverage

• Choose menus that feature seasonal foods and beverages that are locally grown and harvested as much as possible.
• Avoid disposable dishes or box lunches when possible
• Ensure that any one time use items, if needed, are made of recyclable materials.
• Work to order food quantities at levels that minimize waist, and research options for food overage to be donated, or consumed rather then thrown away. 

Information Exchange

• Use name badges, holders, lanyards, and tickets that are from 100 percent recycled materials.
• Use name badge holders that are 100% biodegradable.
• Moved to an on-demand badge printing solution minimizing paper/badge stock waist and over printing.
• Collect presenter handouts in advance of our meetings and upload them to our website
• Ask attendees return their materials at the conclusion of our meetings and events so that they may be reused or properly recycled.
• Provide staff and attendee information, packets, schedules, and programming via electronic files, web, and mobile apps to minimize paper/program printing.
• Utilize software programs for internal planning and collaboration to review documents electronically rather than via printed documents.

Transportation

• We limit shuttle bus transportation at our meetings and events. We strive to have our off-site events within walking distance to our main conference hotels.
• Ensure that our meetings and events are held at locations served by public transportation.
• Offer discounted pricing to attendees on shared ride transportation to and from the airports servicing our events to further reduce the total carbon footprint.