Lessons on making nice in the arts

A new ​un-conference reminds us to make nice. Image: cc

We’re a pretty nice bunch in the arts. A scroll through Twitter reveals dozens of congratulatory messages for colleagues, and a Federal funding crisis is only bringing us closer together as we stand up for ​what we value.

But while we may have learned how to celebrate people’s successes and ​stand together in a storm, are we still learning how to make nice on a day-to-day level?

Recently, cultural manager Ann Tonks wrote about bullying in the arts sector, observing that ‘artists get away with bad behaviour more than anyone else.’

She also points to how under resourcing of arts organisations creates a pressure to be more efficient and effective, leading to an environment where bullying may be more likely.

Read: Bullying in the arts is a real problem