- Safer Venues WA website live thanks to Cook Government's Contemporary Music Fund
- Advocacy group improving safety and inclusivity at WA music venues
- New website with online toolkit follows workshops and training with industry
A new website with an industry toolkit, created thanks to State Government funding, is aiming to make live music venues in Western Australia safer and more inclusive, especially for women and the LGBTQI+ community.
Community organisation Safer Venues WA was started thanks to $60,000 funding from the Contemporary Music Fund (CMF) as a measure to address safety and harassment concerns. A 2017 survey found 67 per cent of 550 respondents had previously been harassed in a WA venue, and of those people, 80 per cent were women.
The CMF investment led to workshopping with contemporary music venues, audiences and artists and the development of online resources in a bid to improve inclusivity and safety at concerts and nightclubs. Venues actively involved include Freo.Social, Mojo's, Connections, The Bird, The Rechabite, Blueroom Theatre, Picabar/Percy Flint, Astral Weeks and Indi Bar.
The website, for all WA venues, provides practical information such as advice on signage and house policy development, door entry and bathroom safety procedures and security briefing scripts. There is also a downloadable harassment report form and after-care cards.
The new Safer Venues WA website raises awareness by outlining how to make spaces safer, in particular for young women and LGBTQIA+ patrons. The website also provides research and education online and offers links to training providers.
The Safer Venues WA website is at https://www.safervenueswa.org/.
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
"The Cook Government is proud to fund an initiative to make Western Australia's music venues safer and improve inclusivity at live performances and nightlife in WA for all patrons.
"Everyone should be able to enjoy local musicians and bands without being afraid of harassment or intimidation. I commend and applaud all the venues involved and the industry in general for its support and willingness to train staff.
"The Contemporary Music Fund is all about diversity, so it's fitting the CMF has funded the Safer Venues WA initiative promoting gender, sexuality and cultural inclusion."
As stated by Women's Interests Minister Sue Ellery:
"Women have every right to feel safe when they attend live music and entertainment venues.
"I commend community organisation Safer Venues WA for taking a positive step to address safety and harassment concerns, especially for women and the LGBTQI+ community.
"We all have a role to play to ensure safe, respectful and inclusive environments for all Western Australians."
