Jam for Safer Spaces

Venues and hosts of events have a responsibility to make safer spaces for everyone to enjoy creative events. This can often be difficult for a small team to explain and, if necessary, intervene on busy or stressful nights to ensure a safe space for all.

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While there are some progressive and regular musical events already in Brussels, such as the Fem Jam at Crazy Circle every Wednesday (currently suspended) which offers a stage 100% for women* and also the Speak Easy Sessions at KFK HOPE who book 50% female artists, there is unfortunately little coordination between different jams and venues towards encouraging safer spaces and a more inclusive approach to creative events in the Brussels music and entertainment scene.

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Here at the General Jam and Open Mic. Sessions, we wanted to start a conversation about how to build safer spaces for jam sessions in Brussels with the hope that it will encourage a broader debate in other musical and creative events. In April 2019 we published our policy on Safe Spaces in Jam Sessions inspired by the documentary by Edouard de Ganay on Jam Sessions in Brussels. It features performing artist ‘Lady Reg’ who raises the question of why there are considerably fewer female artists performing in Brussels jam sessions than male artists.

 

While there are many reasons for this, one thing we can all do in creative events is to work together to find ways to make our spaces safer, free from harassment and more inclusive. Hosting creative events can be challenging and stressful but they are also great spaces to learn and improve. We would like to link together some of our lessons learned and work together on finding ways to make the music scene in Brussels a safer space for all.

 

In the coming months we hope to reach out to different hosts of events and creative venues to consider signing up to a Safer Spaces Policy. Our draft Safer Spaces policy, shown here in different sections, will be open in review until Midnight on Tuesday August the 9th, 2022 for anyone to share their ideas, feedback or contributions.

 

Please email your feedback to jam4saferspaces@gmail.com and share with anyone you feel may want to be part of building safer spaces for creative events in our community.

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Our aim is for people of all gender identities, abilities, ages, sexualities, cultures and backgrounds to feel welcome to participate in our creative events. Towards this, harassment, discrimination or other abusive behaviours will not be tolerated in any form.

 

Please follow up with any questions or feedback – we’re happy to hear from you and to engage in dialogue. We believe that building bridges towards safer spaces is only possible through respectful communication and dialogue.

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