Improv Cincinnati Safe Space Contract
A Safe and Respectful Community For All
It’s Improv Cincinnati’s highest value to foster a fun, inclusive, and friendly community with meaningful and supportive relationships. Students are valued for their diverse backgrounds, cultures, and opinions. Scenes and classroom banter should never be racist, sexist, misogynistic, homophobic, transphobic, or bigoted. In general, we ask for kindness, positivity, and an openness to learn.
Because improv encourages free-spirited discovery, there can be uncomfortable situations when hurtful words are inadvertently spoken. Let’s strive to assume the best intentions in each other. If there is an occasion where someone is offended or triggered, their feelings deserve to be validated and respected. If someone calls you out for your own offensive behavior, whether it was intentional or accidental, please try to set aside defensiveness. Often what is needed is simply an apology and a sincere attempt to be better.
Personal Boundaries
In the classroom environment, the level of touching in scenes should be consensual, professional, non-intimate, and non-lingering. Students should avoid sexualizing their scene partners and/or simulating an environment of harassment.
On teams, coaches should lead ongoing discussions with performers about each individual’s intimacy comfort level and their personal preferences should always be honored. Clear vocal consent between fellow performers is highly encouraged before any scenes/ shows.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment, abuse, discrimination, and stalking are unacceptable and may result in permanent expulsion, even if the behavior occurs outside of class.
Teachers are prohibited from having romantic or intimate relationships with their current students.
If you experience or witness harassment, unwelcome behavior, or if you feel unsafe, you may make a report anonymously at improvcincinnati.com/anonymous. All reports will be investigated by our Safety Committee and appropriate action will be taken on a case by case basis.
Other behavior that can result in expulsion or dismissal from classes and teams includes (but is not limited to) coming to class/show drunk, high, or otherwise intoxicated, engaging in violent or unsafe activity, purposefully insulting or dehumanizing others, or destroying property.