Code of Conduct

Last Updated: 14 August 2025

Introduction

The European Solidarity Residency (ESR) is a collaborative project designed to support and empower emerging cultural professionals (CPs), especially those from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds. This Code of Conduct provides a shared framework for respectful, transparent, and inclusive collaboration among all project partners, residents, and contributors.

Purpose

This document outlines the values and principles that guide our work. It supports a working culture grounded in solidarity, mutual respect, and responsibility, ensuring that ESR remains a safe and empowering environment for all participants. The Code of Conduct is a living document that reflects our shared commitment to equity, professionalism, and positive change.

Common Goals and Reminders

• ESR is committed to supporting early-career CPs from underprivileged backgrounds by offering accessible residencies that foster growth, exploration, and leadership.

• We aim to foster solidarity among partner institutions and participants through collaboration, empathy, and openness.

• The project seeks to enable and promote equal opportunities, especially for those historically excluded from cultural participation.

• Our residencies are more than workspaces; they are platforms for learning, experimentation, and knowledge exchange.

• As partners, we recognise our responsibility to create meaningful, inclusive, and environmentally aware artistic responses to societal challenges.

Fundamental Values

• Solidarity – standing together in mutual support, both practically and ideologically.

• Professionalism – respecting deadlines, roles, and responsibilities.

• Diversity – valuing the rich cultural and social contexts of each partner.

• Exchange – engaging in open, two-way learning among all participants.

• Empathy – practising understanding and kindness, particularly in complex situations.

• Boundaries – recognising and respecting personal, cultural, and professional limits.

• Cooperation – working together with shared goals and trust.

• Transparency and Policy Awareness – being accountable and informed.

• Positive Impact – aiming for gradual, meaningful change through every activity and decision.

General Principles of Cooperation

• Safety first: Creating and maintaining a physically and emotionally safe environment is everyone's responsibility.

• Communication: Email is the official communication channel. While tools like WhatsApp may be used for informal coordination (e.g. meeting logistics), all professional matters should be documented via email. We use Google Drive to edit documents and Dropbox to store final documents collaboratively.

• Respect working hours: We acknowledge that each of us has personal and professional responsibilities; respecting time boundaries helps prevent burnout.

• Flexibility and patience: Projects evolve, and so do we. We remain open to change, and patient with ourselves and others.

• Responsibility and structure: We are accountable for our contributions, and we support each other in staying organised and reliable.

• Creativity and agility: We encourage experimentation while remaining responsive to new ideas and feedback.

• Mental health matters: We foster environments that support wellbeing, and we encourage each person to establish and communicate healthy boundaries.

Keeping Each Other Safe

• Respect each other's working time, deadlines, and communication preferences.

• Be mindful of the project's goals and make decisions aligned with its values and budget.

• Treat residents, partners, and collaborators with dignity and care.

• Support an environment where it's safe to ask questions, express disagreement, or name discomfort.

• Acknowledge that mistakes happen and use them as opportunities for growth and mutual learning.

• Ensure that the residency environment is inclusive, family-friendly, and accessible to all.

This Code of Conduct is a reminder of our shared commitments. It helps us navigate the complexities of international, cross-sectoral work with clarity, trust, and a focus on long-term, systemic impact.

Let us carry these values not only throughout the ESR project, but also into the broader cultural ecosystems we shape together.