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A Guide to Managing Incidents and Promoting Safety in Culture

In recent times, the cultural sector has been the target of disruptive manifestations – in some cases even violent, at a psychological and physical level – by different people or groups. The intention is to condition freedom of creation and cultural enjoyment by censoring exhibitions, books, performances and other public cultural events.

We need to better understand the practices adopted, as well as our rights in a state governed by the rule of law, and to be prepared to deal with these disruptions, establishing protective measures and safety protocols, taking into account the protection and wellbeing of professionals in the sector and members of the public.

What we can learn from history – both recent and not so recent – is that the tolerance of those who value democracy towards those who only take advantage of its mechanisms for anti-democratic purposes does not help the fight against extremism, it does not weaken it. On the contrary, it normalises it and, in this way, allows for its consolidation. Extremism and violence, regardless of the underlying
ideologies, cannot be normalised; instead, they must be condemned and repudiated.