The Social Safety in the Performing Arts Foundation launches a guide entitled ‘Safe Governance’ on the social safety of managing directors

The Performing Arts Social Safety Foundation is today launching the ‘Safe Governance’ guide. The publication focuses on the social safety of directors and managers in the performing arts and helps directors and supervisors to deal carefully with situations involving inappropriate behaviour and conduct that crosses boundaries.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the focus on social safety in the workplace. Much attention is paid to the position of employees, whilst the position of the managing director is often overlooked. Managing directors occupy a complex position: they bear ultimate responsibility for a safe working environment, are the public face of the organisation and, at the same time, are employees of the supervisory board. Situations involving inappropriate behaviour or allegations thereof can therefore have significant administrative, legal and personal consequences.

Little structural support

The guide stems from the observation that there is still little structural support and few frameworks available to managing directors in this area. Mirjam van Tiel, business director of Theater Oostpool, and Sewan Mumcuyan, director of Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, took the initiative to produce the guide two years ago in collaboration with the Foundation for Social Safety in the Performing Arts. Mirjam van Tiel: “This enables us to broaden the discussion to include the social safety of directors themselves. That was a gap in the discussion, even though the issue is urgent: many directors are facing this problem.”

For directors and supervisory board members

‘Protected Governance’ was developed by a working group of directors and board members in the performing arts, in collaboration with the NAPK, VSCD, the Foundation for Social Safety in the Performing Arts and Bureau &MAES. A diverse group of organisations and peers, including the Council for Culture, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Cultuur+Ondernemen and Mores, reviewed the document and provided input. The guide is primarily intended for managing directors of companies, theatres, concert halls and other performing arts organisations. Supervisory boards, confidential advisers and consultants may also find the guide useful.

Among other things, the publication covers the roles and responsibilities of managing directors and supervisory boards, preventive measures, protocols, relevant legislation and regulations, and codes of conduct. In addition, the guide provides insight into forms of support and practical steps for getting started within one’s own organisation.

A hypothetical case study serves as the central theme running through the guide and illustrates how different perspectives and interests can converge in situations relating to social safety. It examines three scenarios that may arise in practice: inappropriate behaviour towards the managing director, allegations (whether justified or not) of inappropriate behaviour directed at the managing director, and allegations directed at fellow directors.

A broader discussion on governance

Sewan Mumcuyan sees the guide as a means of advancing the discussion on governance within the sector. “Hopefully, the guide will offer practical guidance for both managing directors and supervisory board members, and will contribute to a broader discussion on further strengthening and professionalising governance in our sector and enhancing the resilience of managing directors.”

This guide is expressly not a manual setting out a single, fixed approach. Every organisation and every situation is different. ‘Protected Governance’ offers a starting point for initiating a dialogue on social safety, raising awareness and providing insight into where directors and organisations can turn for support.