Uniarts Helsinki introduces a safer spaces policy
Uniarts Helsinki has compiled a safer spaces policy that is applied to all our activities – teaching, work, events and everyday interactions. The policy aims to foster something that we all find important: a respectful, open and equitable university culture.
The policy articulates our values and offers concrete guidelines for situations where we might feel unsure of what to do. It reminds us of how engaging in respectful interaction is not self-evident but a conscious choice that we make every day.
Read the policy in our website
You can find the policy on our website as part of our facility-related regulations. The policy can be used as is or tailored to better match specific contexts like teaching lessons or events.
It is important that our staff, students and event visitors are committed to the principles of the policy.
Policy in brief
The safer spaces policy can be summarised into a few key points:
- we respect everyone’s human dignity and identity.
- a safe university culture is our shared responsibility.
- we enter situations with an open mind and give space to various kinds of perspectives.
- we act with respect when we participate in teaching and attend events, performances and exhibitions.
These guidelines aren’t just words in a document but represent real everyday actions and choices.
We can’t build a safe learning and work environment by simply compiling rules and instructions. We need to actively think about the way we talk, listen and react to each other and how we behave in various situations.
That’s why appreciative and respectful interaction is at the core of creating safer spaces.
What if people don’t follow the policy?
If you notice that someone doesn’t follow the safer spaces policy, bring up the matter with your teacher or supervisor. Visitors at events can report the incident to a staff member at the event. If somebody acts in a disturbing way at our events, you can also submit feedback afterwards using our general feedback form.
We address incidents in accordance with the university’s guidelines for dealing with conflicts and inappropriate behaviour. The guidelines list the university’s contact persons, who will help people take the matter forward and deal with the situation.
How the policy came about and how to give feedback on it
The need to compile a safer spaces policy was brought up in the university’s DEI working group. The university had a separate safer spaces policy for academic events but there was no general policy that could be used as guidelines in all university activities. Based on the received feedback and a discussion on the topic, the working group decided to compile a general safer spaces policy.
The DEI working group prepared the policy, and various bodies and the student union discussed it in autumn 2025 and spring 2026. Now the policy is in use, and the goal is to collect feedback on it during the next year. Possible updates to the policy will be made in spring 2027. You can send feedback using an online form.