BKF has long focused on the inequality between the sexes in the arts and on the representation of artists with a minority background. But now, for the first time, the association has an actual policy on equality and diversity, which is broadly aimed at the many different forms of discrimination that can take place in the arts:
"In our perspective, equality is not only about equal conditions for the sexes, but also about equality in relation to other visible and invisible markers of identity. Eg. racialisation, religion, sexual orientation, social class, age, functional variations etc. These markers – and many more – interact at multiple levels and simultaneously, which can contribute to further discrimination. That's why we talk about intersectional equality when we talk about our work for equality in the arts," it says, among other things. in the new one BKF equality and diversity policy.
The policy was formulated by a working group under BKF's board, which has been working on the process for a few months, and it was adopted by a unanimous board last week.
Photo at top: Julie Edel Hardenberg: Stolen Sister (2020). From BKF's trade magazine The visual artist #3 2021 with the theme of Greenlandic artists.
BKF's board 2021 consists of: Nis Rømer (president), Marie Thams (deputy president), Hannibal Andersen (treasurer), Jules Fischer, Marie Markman, Anna Elisabeth Dupont Hansen, Søren Hüttel, Kim Grønborg, Simon Fiil.
BKF takes joint responsibility
The working group consisted of the artists Jules Fischer, Hannibal Andersen, Anna Elisabeth Dupont Hansen and BKF's deputy head Marie Thams. She says:
"We will take our co-responsibility to ensure that all artists, regardless of identity marker, must be able to work with their art without being met by discrimination, borderless behavior or violations. And of course this also applies internally in our own organisation, where we now undertake to educate ourselves, ensure clear complaints procedures in infringement cases and think equality and diversity into all the association's work, e.g. when we appoint artists to various councils and boards.”
BKF's spokesperson Nis Rømer adds:
"I am really happy that BKF now has a clear policy in this area, which can hopefully help to inspire other players in the art world. The recent debates about #MeTo and racism show how important it is that we create clear, binding frameworks to ensure a good mental working environment in the art world. And that we continuously work to get an equal representation of artists with many different backgrounds everywhere in the art world.”
Mental working environment for visual artists
BKF's working group for equality and diversity has also prepared one guide on psychological working environment for visual artists.
It addresses artists with advice and information about rights and guidance options if you experience violations in your working life.
Also read: #No to sexism in the art world - BKF's collection of testimonies from artists 2020...
Also read: Desired: A caring and respectful art world – interview in BKF's trade magazine BILLEDKUNSTNEREN #3 2021 with artists Yvette Brackman and Bettina Camilla Vestergaard from the project Art Different Communities.
The equality and diversity policy has been adopted by BKF's board of directors, October 2021. The board undertakes to revisit this document at least once a year to assess whether there is a need to update/adjust the policy.
Download BKF's equality and diversity policy as pdf here…
BKF's statutes was revised in 2019 for i.a. to determine that the union's board must reflect an equal gender distribution.
See also:
BKF theme page with background articles on equality and representation in the arts
Art & Culture in Balance, a network initiated by Sneak in collaboration with a large number of artist organisations, including the Visual Artists Association (BKF).