Safer Venues WA website launch music to community’s ears
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 Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC)
Contemporary Music Fund (CMF) as a measure to address safety and harassment
concerns. A 2017 survey found 67% of 550 respondents had previously been harassed
in a WA venue, and of those people, 80% 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, Blue Room 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.