Nes Code of Conduct
Scope, Values, Guiding Principles, External Support, Definitions, Complaint Procedure
Scope
The purpose of this code of conduct is to bring these principles explicitly to the attention of everyone involved with Nes—resident artists, staff, board members, contract workers, freelancers, interns, as well as guests and visitors—as a preventative policy and guiding framework for reflection. Nes takes the health, safety, and enjoyment of residents and staff seriously, and asks everyone to uphold this code of conduct to help create a safe and secure environment. This document is a work in progress and we welcome feedback.
Values
Ethical Standards and Best Practices
We continuously seek professional development and enhancement of knowledge and skills. We will listen to each other and respond to the needs of artists and changes in the field.
Polyphony
We strive to include as many voices as possible, and expand access so as to nurture an inclusive and diverse balance of artistic methods, styles, themes, and visions, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, geographic origins, gender, and more.
Transparency
We cultivate open communication between Nes staff, resident artists, board members, and the local community.
Sustainability
We work to ensure the longevity of Nes in environmentally and socially sustainable ways.
Guiding Principles
► Skagaströnd is a small community in a remote location, so we invite everyone to help protect each other’s safety and well-being. If someone needs urgent help related to their physical or mental health, stay with them, inform Nes staff, and call 112 for an ambulance, if able to do so.
► We ask residents to notify staff or emergency services when they or someone else might be in danger, whether due to environmental hazards, the behavior of others, or from self-harm.
► Nes Artist Residency works to create a safe haven for its resident artists, staff, guests, and visitors. Artistic practice and daily life are intertwined within shared living and working spaces; therefore, fellowship, integrity, inclusion, respect, honesty, and consideration for others are essential for shaping a positive environment in which everyone is able to develop their talents and treat each other with respect, regardless of their background, belief, sexuality, gender, disability, role, or position. Unwelcome behavior should at all times be addressed; either by talking to the relevant persons directly or by engaging staff members.
► We expect everyone to work together to keep shared accommodations and workspaces clean and organized, to protect them from wear, and out of respect to everyone sharing the space. This includes regularly following the cleaning checklist.
► Resident artists choose to share a house with strangers, a voluntary arrangement that requires some flexibility and acceptance towards varied patterns of living and working.
► As a provisional community, an art residency can provide opportunities for artistic exchange, interpersonal growth, and experimentation. Living and working alongside fellow artists has the potential to inspire and/or unsettle our ways of being in positive ways;
► Yet because sharing space requires vulnerability and trust, we must be particularly attuned to personal boundaries. Differences of opinion or views may result in passionate debates or even intellectual and artistic conflict. Disagreement, however, is no excuse for showing disrespect, a lack of good fellowship, exercising inappropriate behavior, or abuse of power.
► We encourage everyone to address misunderstanding, disagreement, and harm in a spirit of good fellowship and accountability. Everyone makes mistakes, but if a resident or staff member feels threatened or unsafe, they should engage the Studio Manager, Director, Board Member, or external support outside of Nes. Both Studio Manager and Director hold regular studio office hours (posted on the door).
► Any form of unwelcome behavior, such as sexual or other forms of intimidation, aggression, bullying, or discrimination, is unacceptable. It is crucial to act as soon as possible in the event of unwelcome behavior. This message is communicated at the level of management as well as the working space of the studios and accommodations. To ensure a comfortable and safe environment, a transparent process of communication between staff, resident artists, board members, and the public, is essential.
► Verbal or non-verbal behavior that characterizes a person or group in a stereotyped position, including racist, sexist, ageist, ableist, homophobic, transphobic, or xenophobic speech, is unacceptable, and may result in the resident or employee being asked to leave Nes. We acknowledge that difficult or taboo language is often taken up as subject matter in the context of an artwork, and so is a matter of free expression, and should generally not be censored. When lines between art and social interaction become blurred, or when freedom of expression impedes upon freedom from harm, we will address those situations case-by-case. We suggest using content warnings when appropriate.
► Nes maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual misconduct and adopts a victim-centered approach to preventing and addressing sexual misconduct, whereby the wishes, safety, and well-being of the victim are prioritized in all situations and procedures. Anyone affected by sexual assault can notify Nes staff members, contact designated board member Eva Guðbjartsdóttir, or the free and anonymous Red Cross Helpline below.
External Support
To safeguard emotional and mental health and wellbeing, residents can reach out to Nes staff, who will direct them to appropriate resources, or they can contact Iceland’s Red Cross Helpline and online chat at +354 580 1710 or on their website: 1717.is.
To file a police report contact Blönduós Police Station at Hnjúkabyggð 33, 540 Blönduós / Phone: +354 444 0700
Definitions
► Accountability: taking responsibility for one’s actions and their outcomes, both positive and negative, without making excuses or blaming others.
► Discrimination: expressing insults or violent action against others because of their religion, belief, political affiliation, race, gender, gender identity, sexuality, nationality, marital status, age, disability, chronic illness, or on any other ground.
► Good Fellowship: a spirit of friendship, goodwill, mutual respect, and sincerity of intention.
► Inappropriate, Unwelcome, or Transgressive behavior: Any form of behavior (be it physical, verbal, or non-verbal) that violates, knowingly or unknowingly, someone’s personal, emotional, or social boundaries, leading to an unsafe, threatening, humiliating, and/or intimidating environment. Transgressive behavior involves a violation of moral or social boundaries, and encompasses sexual harassment, aggression, violence, bullying, overly-controlling conduct, and discrimination. We acknowledge that not all difficult interactions are transgressive, for example, a challenging intellectual conversation. When someone persists in behavior after they have been made aware it is unwelcome, it may become transgressive.
► Intimidation: any form of behavior with the purpose or effect of compromising the dignity of a person, instilling fear, or adversely affecting work performance, or creating an unsafe and/or threatening environment.
► Sexual Harassment: behavior characterized by the making of unwelcome sexual remarks, requests for sexual favors, and/or physical advances in a workplace or social situation. Sexual harassment can occur between persons of the same gender or different genders.
► Aggression: forceful action (verbal or non-verbal) intended to dominate; or hostile, injurious, or destructive behavior, especially when caused by frustration.
► Violence: psychologically, physically, or verbally harassing, threatening, or attacking a resident, staff member, or anyone else.
► Bullying: To harm, intimidate, or coerce;
OR persistent threatening and aggressive physical behavior or verbal abuse directed toward other people, especially those who are younger, smaller, weaker, or in some other situation of relative disadvantage;
OR the repetitive, intentional harming of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical, verbal, psychological, or social. Two or more people uniting against one person would be one example of an imbalance of power.
Complaint Procedure
When a case of transgressive behavior arises between residents (including their guests), the following steps will be taken by the Director and/or Board Members:
► Nes will take action to ensure the immediate safety of persons involved, and then listen to all involved parties.
► Nes will seek to mediate and resolve conflicts when possible.
► Nes will seek professional expertise when necessary.
► If necessary, cases will be discussed and decided at a board level.
► In all of these steps, Nes will respect confidentiality. Cases will not be shared within the community, unless necessary.
► If it is reasonably suspected or confirmed that individuals or groups are interacting disrespectfully or harming others, Nes will ask those individuals to leave the residency.
► In certain cases Nes may give a formal written warning instead of expulsion, based on the severity of the situation.
► We understand every situation is different, and will address conflicts with the specificity they require.
Complaints Regarding Nes Employees
This procedure applies to complaints related to transgressive behavior involving Nes employees and/or board members. For resident artists, this procedure addresses complaints about transgressive behavior that occur during their residency, or within its immediate sphere of influence.
► The Director and Studio Manager will notify the board chairperson in the event of inappropriate behavior in the workplace.
► If a resident has a complaint involving the Director of Nes, they can first notify the Studio Manager (onsite@neslist.is).
► And conversely, if the complaint involves the Studio Manager, they can notify the Director (nes@neslist.is).
► In the case of complaints involving both director and studio manager, the resident will notify designated board member: Eva Guðbjartsdóttir