Code of Conduct

Open Book Festival is an annual three day gathering for meaningful conversation through the lens of books. Each year we are joined by over 100 writers, and 1000s of readers and active citizens. Most people who come are Cape Town based, but there are a significant number of people who join from the rest of the country. We also welcome a small number of people from the Continent and African diaspora.

The conversations that grow out of the curated programme are as crucial to us as what happens on stage. The success of the Festival depends so much on both the generosity of those up on stage, and of those who sit in the audience. We strive to ensure that all who join us have an experience that impacts positively on all aspects of their lives. As such, respect and courtesy are expected from everyone during the conference and at all related events.

To clarify the expected behaviour; all staff, attendees, speakers, and vendors must adhere to the following Code of Conduct. This policy is enforced throughout the event by the organisers.

The Open Book Community

The OBF Community is vibrant, consisting of members with diverse skills, personalities, cultures, and experiences. It’s through these differences that our community finds strength and achieves growth. We encourage all community interactions to be guided by the following principles, which help steer our interactions and maintain a positive, successful, and growing community:

Being open: Community members are open to collaboration.
Focusing on what is best for the community: Our actions and decisions should reflect respect for our community processes and contribute positively.
Being respectful of differing viewpoints and experiences: Constructive comments and criticism are vital for our growth and improvement.
Showing empathy towards other community members: We strive to be mindful in our interactions, recognising the diversity in our community.
Being considerate and respectful: We treat others with respect, recognising their contributions and differing needs.
Gracefully accepting constructive criticism: Disagreements, when approached with openness and respect, can lead to growth and understanding.
Using welcoming and inclusive language: Our community thrives on involvement from all people, making a concerted effort to be inclusive to all.

Our Standards

Every member of our community deserves respect, and we are committed to making participation in our community a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of personal and demographic characteristics.

Inappropriate Behaviour
Unacceptable behaviors include but are not limited to:

Harassment in any form.
Intimidation, stalking, or following.
Invasive recording or photography.
Publishing others’ private information without explicit permission.
Offensive comments related to personal characteristics.
Unwelcome sexual attention or advances.
Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviour.

Weapons Policy
No weapons will be allowed at Open Book events, consistent with venue policies.

Consequences
Participants asked to stop any inappropriate behaviour are expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in behaviour that violates this code, the conference organisers may take any action they deem appropriate, from issuing a warning to the offender to expelling them from the conference with no refund.

Scope
This Code of Conduct applies to all participants at Open Book Festival events, including:

Talks, workshops, parties, and any associated social events.
Online interactions related to the Festival, including posts related to the Festival on social media.

The Code of Conduct applies both within Festival spaces and in public spaces when an individual is representing OBF or its community. Instances of abusive, harassing, or otherwise unacceptable behaviour may be reported by contacting the event organising team at frankie@openbookfestival.co.za.