BRUSSELS, Belgium (CelebrityAccess) — Indie label trade association IMPALA announced it has adopted a Diversity and Inclusion Charter, establishing a set of twelve commitments for the organization to foster inclusion and diversity across the European independent sector.
As a part of their newly implemented charter, IMPALA will provide guidance, training programs for members, and conduct surveys to measure diversity and a range of other measures, which are designed to encourage an expansion of diversity among their members.
To help to implement the changes called for in their charter, IMPALA has formed a diversity task force, with Keith Harris OBE appointed as adviser. The task force, which began its work in June after the industry took part in #BlackOutTuesday, has held weekly meetings chaired by Eva Karman Reinhold from SOM, the Swedish independents organization and Paul Pacifico from AIM in the UK.
The task force is working with all committees and the board appointing diversity advocates, as well developing best practices for their members.
IMPALA has also invited invite its national association and company members to use the charter’s principles in their own work on a voluntary basis and will offer free bi-annual conscious inclusion training.
“I see IMPALA’s Diversity and Inclusion Charter as a great step forward and a direct call to action for the independent music sector. Simply put, a music sector where everyone can feel heard, safe, valued and respected, creates better companies overall. We’re not committing ourselves to abstract phrases, but instead to practical day to day steps in order to do the work,” said Roger Dorresteijn, MD of Epitaph Europe, and member of IMPALA’s task force.
