Diversity, Equity, Acessibility, and Inclusion
All are welcome at The Center for Contemporary Art (The Center). On August 12, 2020, the Board of Trustees of The Center approved a Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) Statement of Beliefs and a DEAI Policy, emphasizing its commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space where all voices and perspectives are heard and valued, and envisions them as a first step on a path forward for the ongoing work that is to come.
DEAI Statement of Beliefs
All people have a right to participate in the arts.
Creating and experiencing art is a rewarding and enriching experience which should be open to everyone. As one of many steps to realize this vision, The Center for Contemporary Art (“The Center”) adopts this Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) statement to ensure that our visitors and staff all feel safe, welcomed, valued, and respected. We envision this statement as the first of many steps on a path forward for the ongoing work that is to come, and we commit ourselves to that work to make this policy a reality at The Center.
We are mindful of our role in shaping the future of The Center as part of an inclusive, open, and tolerant world, and creating a space where all people are welcomed. We recognize that historically, many voices have been left out of the conversation. Systemic racism and other historic patterns of discrimination have led to unequal access to the arts and to unequal representation in art itself. The Center commits itself to working to undo those patterns and to creating a space where everyone’s voice and perspectives are heard and valued. We welcome all members of the community as members, students, exhibitors, visitors, artists, teachers, curators, employees, and in all aspects of The Center’s work.
The Center’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policy applies to all policies and procedures relating to recruitment and hiring, placement, promotion, compensation, termination, layoff, leaves of absence, training, employee programs, and all other terms and conditions of employment.The Center does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin or ancestry, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or immigration status in any of its activities or operations. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, guests, and volunteers. The Center complies with all applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination employment.
The Center is committed to maintaining a work and visitation environment in which all full and part time employees and contractors, volunteers, members, and guests are treated with respect and dignity. Each full and part time staff member or contractor, volunteer, and trustee has the right to work in a professional environment that promotes equal employment opportunities and prohibits discriminatory practices, including harassment. Each guest and student, whether visiting in person or online, has a right to a safe, healthy, and respectful environment. The Center will not tolerate discrimination and/or harassment in any form of and by all staff members, volunteers, and trustees, guests, and students.
Accessibility is essential to participation in Center programs and events. The Center recognizes the diversity of our community’s abilities and needs and, when necessary, accommodations will be made to allow the fullest level of participation possible. The Center’s accessibility statement, description of services, and information about how to request accomodations are located at https://ccabedminster.org/about-cca/accessibility-services/ and are considered part of this statement.
Board and Staff
The Center’s Board and Staff are committed to undertaking the personal journey necessary to provide genuine leadership in this space. The Board also commits itself to maintaining and increasing its own diversity over time and ensuring that it reflects and represents the broad array of perspectives and experiences in its community.
The Center commits itself to hiring full-time, part-time, volunteer, and teaching staff from a diverse range of backgrounds. This will help The Center reflect and represent the broad array of perspectives and experiences in our community, making it easier for The Center to be a community anchor.
These commitments will be matched with specific goals and objectives to be incorporated into The Center’s Strategic Plan.
Approved by the Board of Trustees 8/12/20
DEAI Policy
Applicability. This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, students, visitors, trustees, and attendees at Center events, whether on-site, off-site, or online. All members of staff, volunteers, contractors, and trustees agree to be bound by this policy. A copy of this policy shall be provided with orientation materials for new staff members, volunteers, and trustees, who shall sign a statement attesting they have read and agree to abide by this policy as a condition of their tenure with the Center.
Because all people are welcome at The Center, everyone can expect a safe, welcoming environment at any Center event, regardless of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status. This applies equally to events held at Center facilities or at any offsite events, including online classes, discussion groups, and other online forums. It also applies to community art days, classes, workshops, gallery events, and all other Center functions.
Unacceptable behaviors at Center events include (but are not limited to) *:
- Sustained disruption during Center events
- Threats or acts of violence
- Physical contact without consent or after a request to stop
- Comments or actions that minimize a person’s experiences, identity, or safety
- Deliberate misgendering or use of “dead” or rejected names
- Deliberate “outing” of any person’s experiences or identity without their consent
- Unwelcome sexual attention
- Deliberate intimidation or stalking of any kind, including online
- Disparaging comments, remarks, or threats against someone based on their immigration status or national origin
- Collection or distribution of harassing photography or recordings (both audio and video), including unwanted selfies, with or without other attendees
- Advocating for or encouraging any of the above behaviors
Discrimination and harassment do not include **:
- “Reverse” -isms, e.g. “reverse racism,” “reverse sexism,” and “cisphobia”
- Reasonable communication of boundaries, such as a request to leave another person alone or expressing a desire not to have a conversation (e.g. “I would prefer not to have this conversation.”)
- Refusal to explain or debate social justice issues when the person being asked is put in a defensive position based on their experience, personal identity, or safety
- Communication in a tone the listener may not find congenial
- Discussion and exploration of sensitive topics and/or art that reflects them
- Criticizing racist, sexist, body type, cissexist, classist, or other oppressive behaviors or assumptions
- Feeling persecuted for your social privilege
Anyone found to be in violation of this policy at any Center event is subject to sanction, including:
- Requirement to immediately cease the offending behavior
- Dismissal from the programs, events, and activities without refund
- Cancellation of Center membership, without refund
- Barring that person from future events, either temporarily or permanently
- Employment sanction, up to and including termination, where appropriate (including termination of contract or temporary staff positions, volunteer status, or board membership)
None of these sanctions is a forfeiture of The Center’s, a visitor’s, or staff member’s right to pursue legal remedies where appropriate.
Anyone who has been involved with or witnessed an incident that violates this code of conduct may report it to any Center staff member. The Center will then investigate and take action as appropriate, in keeping with the grievance procedures outlined in The Center’s Policies and Procedures.
The Center for Contemporary Art recognizes that adopting a policy on its own is no guarantee of change. Therefore, we commit both The Center and ourselves individually to ongoing work to bring the ideals of this policy into reality. We make this statement in the full view of the public with both the expectation and hope that we will be held accountable for living up to it.
* Based on the Code of Conduct of the Museum Computer Network (MCN)
** Based on the Code of Conduct of the Museum Computer Network (MCN)
Approved by the Board of Trustees 8/12/20
