Safer Kaustinen

Kaustinen Folk Music Festival is committed to promoting equality and non-discrimination at the festival. We welcome every festival guest, musician, artist, employee, and volunteer to come as they are. We require that everyone at the festival contributes to creating a safer space by respecting others and behaving appropriately. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, for example, gender, ethnicity, skin colour, or sexual orientation, nor do we accept physical, verbal, or sexual harassment.

If you see or experience behaviour towards yourself, a friend or other festival guest or employee that is distressing, inappropriate or in any way does not support equality and equity, please report it to the festival stewards or other staff. Festival staff and stewards have been instructed to pay attention to safety and equality. 

You can report harassment either by submitting the form anonymously or by leaving your contact details so that our harassment officer can contact you to follow up on the incident. All discussions will be confidential and on your terms. The sender's information will not be stored or used for any other purpose.

A confidential contact form and the contact details of the harassment officer will be available on this page during the festival.

 Principles for a Safer Space:

• Respect the other person's personal physical and mental space. Respect self-determination. Do not touch another person without asking permission. Remember that you cannot know someone's limits without asking. Ask for space for yourself if necessary 
• Do not mock, bully, or humiliate anyone through your words, behaviour, or actions.
• Don´t make assumptions based on appearance or behaviour. Do not make assumptions about anyone's sexuality, gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion, values, socio-economic background, health or ability to function.
• Give space. Make sure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in the debate. Don't push other people's opinions and give them a chance to speak. Also respect the privacy of others and handle sensitive topics with respect.
• Listen and learn. Embrace new topics, people and perspectives with an open mind. Treat every issue and situation you encounter as an opportunity to learn and develop.

• Apologise, if you have intentionally or unintentionally hurt others.

If you see someone behaving inappropriately or otherwise violating the Safer Space policy, intervene.

Reporting a disturbance

Let's make the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival the happiest days of the summer!