Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

It's Tour de Moon's collective responsibility to take intentional steps towards better understanding EDI and meaningfully challenging, confronting and removing systemic inequalities, both internally and externally. We recognise and understand the unequal realities and trauma caused by racism, classism, sexism, ableism, ageism, and sexual orientation in the UK and across the world.

We understand that oppression cannot be understood in isolation, we Tour De Moon firmly understand that oppression is ultimately intersectional and so our commitment to Equity, Diversity and inclusion must be all encompassing - exclusion and discrimination is multi-layered and so must our approach. 

For Tour De Moon this isn’t about ticking boxes, this is really about confronting barriers to accessing artistic experiences and visualising a fairer, inclusive society.

As a publicly funded touring festival, we recognise that a fairer, inclusive and diverse society enhances talent, encourages innovation and creates a happier and healthier population - everyone can benefit from greater equality, diversity and inclusion in our society. 

For us, Diversity and inclusion is a fundamental consideration in both our artistic programming and organisational planning and all staff are to be equipped and encouraged to take responsibility for furthering the principles defined in this document within their remit of work. Training and consultations are regularly scheduled.

This document is outlining our core pillars/ principles with regard to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within our team and for our programmes. We are using these principles to create an EDI Action Plan alongside active discussion with staff, board and relevant partners and stakeholders.

Centering Equity, Diversity and Inclusion - We're committed to centering our work on EDI around the voices of the unheard and the marginalised to truly commit to equity.

Showing  transparency - We're committed to being transparent about our process, insights in regards to the development and implementation of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion both internally and externally.

Platforming lived experiences - Fundamentally we want to platform the lived experiences of the people that face marginalisation and systemic oppression.  This is with the idea that we must contribute to the validation of people’s lived experiences - and recognise and platform these truths.

Safer spaces - We are committed to ensuring that all the spaces we facilitate as a festival are what we consider “safe spaces”.

Being Real - We cannot meaningfully address all the challenges that we face when looking at Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, however through an EDI Action plan we will be clear and measurable about what we can achieve.

Accountability - We’re committed to being accountable to our ambitions for EDI throughout the festival process. We will regularly utilise our board of directors, youth advisory board and youth reporters board to monitor progress

Local partnerships & Collaborations - Fundamental to our understanding of EDI. We will ensure continuous collaboration in ideas,  participation with diverse stakeholders, community groups and organisations. 

We wish to:

• Develop long-lasting approaches and initiatives that promote equity and diversity embracing local partnerships and ensuring that issues relating to marginalised communities are at the heart of Tour De Moon’s work.

• Constantly review, renew and continuously develop our policies, practices and procedures along with implementing a vision of equality that impacts on the work of Tour De Moon and which extends to all stakeholders: audiences, employees, Board of Directors and the partners with which it engages in the course of its work.

• Focus our work on collaborating with diverse people, from the 18-25s group. We aim to ensure that we have strong participant representation from LGBTQI+,  Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse communities and those who identify as d/Deaf or disabled,

• Bring together disparate groups of people in Leicester, Newcastle and Southampton who previously did not work together. Through Tour de Moon’s organized workshops for local communities, local people become more connected in their own communities and more likely to collaborate. 

• Share our networks across cities, making it easier for nightlife workers to travel and work in more places. This includes supporting different communities in each city to work together in ways that strengthen and develop the cultural offering of each city in the long term.

• Showcase the positive influence of collaboration and culture, and to inspire new working creative collaborative practices.

• Create exciting events in previously/recently underused spaces. We want to encourage local people to look at spaces in their cities differently and meaningfully.

• Create new connections between local people in the community, micro influencers, speakers, artists and key figures in home cities: Leicester, Southampton & Newcastle.

For the purpose of defining Tour de Moon commitment to accessibility,  it is best to define “disability” in its broadest terms, this means covering physical, sensory, intellectual and psychological disabilities. Further, it is important that the barriers preventing those with disability from participating in Tour De Moon are identified and tackled.

We understand that they are barriers which can restrict a person with disability from fully participating in festival events and programmes. These barriers can be physical, attitudinal and communicational - however they can be easily removed or modified in order to increase the level of access of all people 

We understand ‘access’,as the removal of barriers and we will consistently look to create positive outcomes in access. 

As a result of implementing accessibility strategies and planning, Tour De Moon can maximise its reach and meet it’s wider aims and vision for the festival - we want more people to engage with the Festival in more ways.

Communications - all public communications need to be clear and accessible info. Tour De Moon will ensure that we communicate respectfully with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability, providing assistance when requested.

Venues - controlled and created venues need to be accessible as possible. With preference given to venues that are accessible to people who use wheelchairs.

Ticketing and sign ups - making sure the booking process is accessible.  

Programming - we will implement best practice for people with hearing and vision impairment - looking at available options and understanding what’s possible technologically and logistically

External partners - consultation around disability awareness, looking at all our programme strands, We will ensure that we build relationships with expert organisations

Human Resources - Tour De Moon operates a non-discriminatory hiring policy and workplace practice.

Communications: To communicate festival programme and venue information, ticketing procedures and access initiatives effectively to people with disability and ensure positive experiences through high quality and informed customer service.

Human Resources: 

• To ensure a high standard of internal accessibility policy. 

• To provide access to a knowledge base regarding accessibility issues to staff. 

• To provide training to staff employed, both directly and as contractors, so that staff can manage accessibility issues.

Venue Issues: 

• To maintain and improve standards of accessibility at controlled venues to ensure that participants with disability are not unfairly disadvantaged. 

Ticketing & Sign ups: 

• To ensure that access to Festival ticketing is fair and accessible

• To ensure that sign ups to programme activities are fair and accessible to everyone

Programming Initiatives: 

• To explore avenues to improve accessibility at Festival performances for physical, sensory, intellectual/ psychological and other disabilities, identifying and increasing the number of accessible participation opportunities. 

External Stakeholders: To consult and develop relationships with external stakeholders with expertise in accessibility issues.