Introduction

Clonmel Junction Arts Festival (CJAF) is committed to fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and promotes equality for all artists, volunteers, audiences, and individuals engaged with the festival. We recognize the cultural and organisational richness that diversity brings us, and are dedicated to creating a space that is welcoming, respectful, and reflective of the vibrant and contemporary diversity within Clonmel.

Policy Statement

At CJAF, we acknowledge that everyone brings a unique perspective and set of experiences to our community. We are dedicated to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion across all aspects of our festival. Our commitment extends to ensuring fair treatment, opportunity, and representation for all, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, civil or family status, religion, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveller community, or socio-economic background.

Monitoring & Evaluation 

CJAF is committed to implementing robust monitoring and evaluation processes to assess the effectiveness of our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives. This includes regular reviews of policies, surveys, and feedback mechanisms to ensure continuous improvement. We will utilise this data to identify areas for enhancement and measure progress towards our goals. Our Board of Directors has appointed Eamon O’Malley to be the EDI leader for 2026-7, liaising with Artistic Director Rebecca Lenehan on the festival’s various Open Calls, applications and projects.

Key Actions for 2025-26

  1. Inclusive Programming:

   – Ensure that arts events in the festival reflect the rich diversity of contemporary Clonmel. 

   – Encourage and support artists from underrepresented groups to showcase their work, particularly in new Irish communities. We will work with representative and support groups from these communities to deepen the reach of the festival's Open Calls and other artist development strands. 

   – Identify collaborators within diverse communities with a view towards co-creating and curating events that are representative and inclusive. 

 

  1. Accessible Spaces:

   – Implement measures to make festival venues physically accessible to individuals with disabilities, continuing our work with Rehab in Clonmel in relation to these physical spaces. 

   – Provide information in multiple formats and languages to ensure inclusivity. 

 

  1. Training and Awareness:

   – Conduct regular training sessions for festival staff, volunteers, and artists on EDI principles and practices.  

   – Foster a culture of awareness, understanding, and respect for diversity within our festival community. 

– Safe to Create: as an organisation that has adopted the Safe To Create Code of Behaviour, we will ask all our seasonal staff to complete the online training modules offered by the programme, as has been the case with our permanent staff. 

 

  1. Representation:

   – Establish goals for improved representation in festival programming, ensuring a balanced and diverse lineup. 

   – Collaborate with community groups to identify and address barriers to participation. 

 

  1. Promotion of Inclusivity:

   – Develop and implement social media campaigns that actively promote inclusivity, both within the festival and the wider community. 

   – Partner with local community organisations and local businesses to promote diversity and inclusion beyond the festival period. 

 

  1. Community Engagement:

   – Attend regional forums and discussions that encourage dialogue on issues of diversity and inclusion within the arts. 

   – Foster local and national partnerships with community-based organisations to amplify diverse voices and perspectives. 

Conclusion

At Clonmel Junction Arts Festival, we recognise that fostering equality, diversity, and inclusion is an ongoing commitment that requires monitoring and dedication. We are firm in our resolve to create an environment that celebrates differences, promotes accessibility, and ensures that everyone feels valued and included. Through the implementation of this policy and the associated key actions, CJAF aims to be a beacon of inclusivity in the arts, contributing to a more diverse and enriched cultural landscape in Clonmel. 

Date: January 2026