As part of our commitment to being a responsible, transparent and evolving organisation, and a safe and welcoming place for all our audiences, artists, participants, staff, volunteers, trustees and stakeholders, StAnza keeps a robust set of policies and procedures that govern our work.
These documents are reviewed regularly by the Board of Trustees, Artistic Director and Executive Producer, and we welcome feedback and constructive criticism from everyone we work with.
Policies
Our policies
You can also read our Code of Conduct as a web page, our privacy notice and our website accessibility statement.
Comments or a review request
If you have any comments, or would like to ask for an interim review of any of our policies, email stanza@stanzapoetry.org or write to us at StAnza - Scotland's Poetry Festival, c/o James Hair & Co, 59 Bonnygate, Cupar, Fife KY15 4BY.
If you write to us, please include your contact details if you would like us to tell you the outcome.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Inclusivity
StAnza aims to be a safe and welcoming space for anyone interested in poetry, especially those who are traditionally underrepresented in the literary sector and those who are marginalised because of their identity. We take proactive steps to involve artists, audiences and participants who have had less access to artistic opportunity, for any reason.
Over the years, StAnza has built a strong track record of programming a diverse range of poets and artists, and of representing the languages of Scotland. We have taken further steps to make sure diversity and equality run through the whole organisation, from our Board of Trustees to our audiences, and we place particular emphasis on making sure our outreach programmes reach people who have had less access to opportunities like these.
Our Code of Conduct sets out the behaviour we expect from all participants, staff, volunteers and artists so that these principles work in practice and make StAnza the warm, welcoming place that our community has come to expect.
The practical side
BSL interpretation, captions, step-free venues, pay what you can and free tickets: see Accessibility for everything we do to make the festival easier to get to and enjoy.
Please get in touch at stanza@stanzapoetry.org with any feedback about our EDI policies or practice. We promise to listen and respond to any concerns and new ideas.
Sustainability
Environment
StAnza aims to be a leader in environmental good practice in the cultural and events sector, by building sustainability into everything we do. We work closely with Culture for Climate Scotland and other organisations to share and learn from best practice.
Travel
Travel
We pay mileage for travel by bicycle, and we don't pay airfares for UK-based poets except for reasons of accessibility. Since 2022, most overseas guests have appeared digitally, and we offer an extensive digital programme with international performers to reduce the festival's carbon footprint.
Food
Catering and buying
Our key venues are owned by the University of St Andrews, which has strong fair trade and environmental procurement policies. We cater for a wide range of diets at the festival.
Waste
Waste
We have cut the print run of our brochure and condensed the format, encouraging audiences to use the digital programme where they can. We avoid laminating and single-use plastics, share all artist packs digitally, and encourage everyone to use the venues' recycling facilities.
Team
Office, staff and volunteers
StAnza has no central office. Our staff and volunteers have audited their own home offices, use public transport where possible, and keep their wider impact in mind in their daily work. Together, staff, trustees and volunteers keep developing our environmental policy as new challenges arise.
Programme
Programming
Each year we programme readings with an environmental angle on the festival theme, because environmental thinking isn't a single-issue event but something to build into everything we do.
Accounts and reports
Accounts and reports
Our most recent accounts and Directors' report, and impact summaries from recent festivals.
