Summary of Good Practice Recommendations

Organisations have a responsibility to:

• develop a risk management strategy

• display warning signs

• develop a process to defend and support artists and their work

• develop policy documents or frameworks that are public and accountable

• maintain open and ongoing communication with artists whose work may be the subject of complaint

• provide training and support for frontline staff who receive complaints from visitors in regard to controversial or provocative work

• explain contentious works, commission resources and didactics to educate different audiences about the work

• have a process to assess and, if necessary, reject artist’s work that does not align with the organisation’s values

• approach curatorial authorship with care and respect - provocative exhibition placement and contextualisation can cause harm

• support staff in attending regular and relevant cultural training to prevent the production and reproduction of cultural appropriation

Artists have a responsibility to:

• prepare statements to explain contentious works

• be accountable and participate in dialogue and public discourse

• consult, collaborate and ask questions

• educate themselves on the safe use of content, materials and equipment and vigilantly promote such practices to their assistants, students, and audiences

• develop relationships based on trust, respect, mutual understanding and responsibility

• seek legal advice as required