Organisational code of practice

Last week I successfully shared the draft of my portfolio with my supervisor. It took hours to get it to a satisfactory standard, but it has been a huge relief to send it off for feedback.

Throughout the inquiry proposal, I have talked heavily about the topic of ethics and how questions arise during the preparation of research in the form of ethical considerations; this will come as no surprise to those of you who are studying the same course as me. I discussed ethics in a blog last year during ACI3611, however, this module focuses on the ethical procedures too. In my proposal essay I state:

'From conducting this inquiry proposal, I have acknowledged that ethics should always be at the forefront of any professional activity.'

This has highlighted that each practice and profession make a range of considerations, some with different levels of importance, and all can lead to varying methods of ethical procedures - even in the same field.

So how does this appear whilst comparing organisations or productions?

My organisation is primarily based in an office and follows a code of practice to other similar offices; we have a HR department that deals with sensitive and confidential information, or anything that engages ethics, which dictates the way certain situations are treated. In my experience, this is a fairly standard practice, however, my professional practice stretches further than those contained within the office building, where strong and regular interactions with artists, creatives and affiliated companies or partners are concerned. These relationships are not necessarily moderated but they do need maintaining for the benefit of the organisation and business.

I have noted that artists and industry workers are usually protected by the performers and creative practitioners union, Equity (depending on the contract), and more specifically there is the SOLT/BECTU agreement, which controls most of the ethical topics that arise in West End theatres.

The considerations that we are left with in the theatre industry can be related to casting, equality, diversity, diplomacy, fraternisation, pay and expense, health and safety, audience etiquette, theatre accessibility, animal and child welfare, etc. Most of these areas usually arise as a result from an action or decision made by either production or artist that has a direct affect on the other. This is where ethics comes in; we either have to preempt unethical situations from occurring or deal with them if they do.

What area of your practice do you feel requires the most amount of ethical considerations?

The procedures we follow must follow current legislation and any contractual agreements, but also should reflect well on organisation and production. Mistreating of artists, employees or professional relationships could be detrimental to a business, which I believe this to be one of the main reasons that 'bad names' are made in the industry. Therefore, I would argue the point that ethical considerations should always be at the forefront of any professional activity.