EDI Policy

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy Outline

Introduction

Brief overview of the company's commitment to EDI principles.

As a small publishing company based in Wales and Ireland, Dalen Llyfrau recognises the cultural and linguistic importance of publishing graphic novels in minority Celtic languages, including Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Welsh, and Cornish. We are dedicated to promoting and preserving these languages, their associated cultures, and their equality status through our publications.

We align with, and uphold, the Arts Council’s EDI policy statements and principles. We never willingly or knowingly exclude or discriminate against any group or individual in our material development, dissemination and availability of our publications.  

There is no discrimination on the basis of gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, age or neurodivergence  in our engagement with staff, contributors, audiences, and the public. Our emphasis is on the importance of fostering an inclusive environment on all levels  within the organisation.

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Getting Started

Explanation of the purpose and scope of the EDI policy:

Purpose: The purpose in creating the EDI policy  is to articulate the company's commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion within the organisation.

Scope: The scope in this instance defines the extent or range of the policy's coverage. It includes how we recruit staff and contributors, workplace culture, employee training, audience engagement, marketing and communications, distribution,etc 

• Key Stakeholder Responsibilities: Alun Ceri Jones (Director), and Daniel Joseff Jones (Director) are responsible for implementing and enforcing the policy. They lead by example and actively promote a culture of inclusivity.

Communication Responsibility: Daniel Joseff Jones (Director). Clear communication of the company's zero-tolerance stance on discrimination and harassment is key, both internally and externally via company meetings, decision making strategies and administration. Transparent communication of our EDI Policy is also a priority in our  engagement with artists and contributors, material suppliers, distributors. It is also clearly displayed on our website.

Understanding Strengths and Areas for Improvement: Our organisation is small and comprises three directors so an assessment of current diversity demographics within the organisation is pretty straightforward with so few people.  It can be difficult to identify areas where diversity and inclusion efforts could be improved from a staff perspective. But we have a commitment to regular review and adaptations as required.

 

Our Key EDI Principles:

Non-Discrimination: We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. This includes individuals and groups involved with the development of our material, its dissemination, and its availability as well as in our engagement with audiences and the public.

Equal Opportunities: We provide equal opportunities for all employees, regardless of background or identity, in hiring, training, promotion, and other employment practices.

Inclusive Environment: We strive to create an inclusive environment where all voices are valued, heard, and respected. We encourage open communication and collaboration among our team members.

 

EDI Audience Engagement: Cultural Sensitivity and Representation

We employ various strategies to ensure that our graphic novels resonate with a diverse audience. This includes actively promoting cultural sensitivity and representation in our storytelling. We are committed to addressing the historical lack of diversity in graphic novels by showcasing a wide range of voices and perspectives, particularly those from minority Celtic languages.

Key Initiatives Include:

Promoting Cultural Sensitivity: We prioritise respectful and accurate representation of cultural identities in our publications. Through ongoing dialogue with authors, we ensure that diverse cultures are portrayed authentically and respectfully.

Embracing Diversity: Our commitment to diversity extends to actively seeking out and amplifying voices from lesser-used Celtic languages. By engaging with these communities, we ensure that their unique perspectives and experiences are heard and represented in our graphic novels.

Community Engagement: We actively engage with communities speaking lesser-used Celtic languages to foster meaningful dialogue and collaboration. This ensures that our publications authentically reflect the rich cultural tapestry of these communities.

Through these efforts, we strive to create graphic novels that not only entertain but also promote empathy, understanding, and inclusivity.

 

5. EDI Artist Engagement:Fostering Diversity in Creative Expression

In our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), Dalen Llyfrau emphasises engaging artists from diverse backgrounds and fostering an environment of equal opportunity. We aim to encourage diverse perspectives and storytelling in our graphic novels, ensuring representation across various identities. Our EDI Artist Engagement initiatives are designed to promote inclusivity and amplify underrepresented voices within the creative community.

Our EDI Artist Engagement strategies focus on cultivating a diverse pool of talent and promoting equal opportunities for all artists. Key elements of our approach include:

Outreach Strategies: We implement proactive outreach strategies to attract artists from diverse backgrounds, actively seeking out talent across ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities.

Equal Opportunity Commitment: We are steadfast in our commitment to providing equal opportunities for artists, irrespective of their background. Our selection processes prioritise talent and creativity, ensuring a level playing field for all applicants.

Encouraging Diverse Perspectives: We actively encourage diverse perspectives and storytelling in our graphic novels, recognizing the richness that comes from varied experiences and backgrounds. Through mentorship programs and creative collaborations, we empower artists to explore and express their unique narratives.

By fostering a culture of inclusivity and diversity in artistic expression, we strive to create graphic novels that resonate with a broad audience and reflect the diverse world we inhabit.

 

6. Enhanced Language Inclusivity:

At Dalen Llyfrau, we recognise the significance of language inclusivity in our publications. While our primary focus lies in minority Celtic language content, we acknowledge the importance of engaging audiences from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Our approach aims to normalise the presence of Irish within popular culture contexts, while simultaneously ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for non-Celtic language speakers. Through our commitment to promoting language diversity, we actively strive to offer multilingual initiatives, providing choice and representation to our audience.

Specialisation in Irish Language Graphic Novels:

Dalen specialises in the publication of graphic novels in the Irish language, contributing to its revitalisation and continuity. Our literature celebrates the linguistic diversity of Ireland, offering vibrant and engaging material tailored for children and young people. By doing so, we aspire to play a role in the preservation, enjoyment, and promotion of Ireland's linguistic heritage.

Cultural and Linguistic Authenticity:

We are dedicated to ensuring that our publications authentically capture the cultural nuances and linguistic subtleties of the Irish language. To achieve this, we collaborate closely with native speakers, language experts, and cultural advisors. Through their guidance, we maintain authenticity and uphold respect for the rich cultural heritage associated with the Irish language.

By prioritising language inclusivity and authenticity in our publications, we aim to foster a sense of belonging and appreciation for linguistic diversity within our audience.

7. Gender Diversity:

Summary:

Dalen Llyfrau is committed to addressing gender diversity within the graphic novel industry. Recognising the under-representation of female contributors and characters, we actively seek to increase female participation in our programme. Through collaborations with institutions like the University of Galway's translation course, we engage with graduates interested in literary translation, writing, and editing. Additionally, we prioritise sourcing material featuring leading female protagonists and collaborate with authors to challenge and amend stereotypical gender portrayals. We proudly include a series featuring leading female protagonists in our application.

Enhancing Female Representation:

We focus on enhancing female representation within our program's contributors by actively seeking out individuals interested in our genres. In this application, 25% of named contributors are female, associated with 30% of the proposed titles.

8. Ethical Content and Production Practices:

Summary:

Dalen Llyfrau is committed to ethical content and production practices across all operations. We prioritise fair treatment and representation of individuals involved in the creative process while promoting human rights and fair practices in production. Any instances of discriminatory or abusive content within our materials are actively monitored and addressed.

Ethical Content and Production Practices:

We adhere to ethical production practices, ensuring fair treatment and representation of all individuals involved in our creative process. Additionally, we promote human rights and fair practices in all aspects of production. We vigilantly monitor and address any instances of discriminatory or abusive content within our materials.

Recent Artwork Release for Asterix:

Recently, new artwork has been released for Asterix, which aims to reduce caricaturization of black characters. This series, known for caricaturing all ethnicities as part of its humour, now features this updated artwork in our Irish Asterix series. Furthermore, our Asterix contracts include obligations to ensure fair practice and uphold human rights in all production aspects.

9. Affordability and Accessibility

Summary:

Dalen Llyfrau prioritises affordability and accessibility in making our publications available to a broad audience. We maintain competitive pricing without compromising on quality, despite the higher production costs compared to projected audience numbers. Collaborations with retailers, key stakeholders like CBI, and engagement in literacy campaigns using our titles ensure accessibility. Additionally, occasional special print runs for specific campaigns further enhance accessibility. Our partnership with the Arts Council plays a critical role in enabling us to pursue ambitious projects.

Affordability and Accessibility

We are dedicated to ensuring that our publications are both affordable and accessible to a wide audience. Despite the relatively high production costs compared to projected audience numbers, we maintain competitive price points without compromising on quality.

Collaborations and Literacy Campaigns:

We collaborate with retailers, key stakeholders such as CBI, and engage in literacy campaigns using our titles to promote accessibility. Occasionally, we organise special print runs for specific campaigns to further enhance accessibility and reach.

Partnership with the Arts Council:

Our partnership with the Arts Council is instrumental in enabling us to develop ambitious work and continue our mission of making literature accessible to all.

10.Distribution and Availability:

Summary:

Dalen Llyfrau prioritises the distribution and availability of our titles to reach diverse audiences through multiple channels. Our primary distribution channel is AIS, supplemented by traditional book retail, lending channels, and online platforms. We focus on partnerships with distributors who align with our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).

Distribution and Availability:

We are committed to ensuring that our titles are readily available to audiences through various distribution channels. Our primary distribution channel is AIS, which enables us to reach a wide audience efficiently. In addition to traditional book retail and lending channels, we leverage online platforms to expand accessibility.

Partnerships for EDI:

We prioritise partnerships with distributors who share our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). By collaborating with distributors who value EDI principles, we ensure that our titles are accessible to diverse audiences and contribute to a more inclusive literary landscape.

11. Prioritising Key Actions:

 

Identification of Specific Actions and Initiatives: Conduct an internal assessment to identify areas for improvement in EDI. Develop actionable initiatives such as implementing unconscious bias training, reviewing hiring practices to ensure diversity in recruitment, and establishing employee resource groups to promote inclusion.

Setting Measurable Goals and Targets: Define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for improving diversity and inclusion. For example, setting targets for increasing representation of underrepresented groups in leadership positions or establishing diversity benchmarks for recruitment processes.

Allocation of Resources and Support: Allocate dedicated resources, both financial and human, to support EDI initiatives. This may involve budgeting for training programs, hiring EDI specialists or consultants, and providing ongoing support for employee-led diversity initiatives.

12. Monitoring and Evaluation:

Establishment of Mechanisms for Monitoring Progress: Implement systems for regularly monitoring progress towards EDI goals. This may include establishing a dedicated EDI committee or task force responsible for tracking metrics, conducting regular check-ins, and reporting progress to senior management.

Regular Collection and Analysis of Diversity Metrics: Develop a comprehensive framework for collecting and analysing diversity metrics, including demographic data on workforce composition, promotion rates, employee satisfaction surveys, and retention rates broken down by demographic categories.

Evaluation of Effectiveness and Adjustments: Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of EDI initiatives and make adjustments as needed. This may involve conducting qualitative and quantitative assessments, soliciting feedback from employees, and adapting strategies based on the outcomes.

13. Conclusion:

Reiterate the company's unwavering commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Encourage all employees to actively contribute to creating an inclusive workplace culture by embracing diversity, fostering open dialogue, and challenging biases.

Implementation Considerations:

Training and Education: Implement training programs to raise awareness of EDI issues and promote inclusive behaviours among employees at all levels of the organisation. Provide ongoing education opportunities to ensure continuous learning and development.

Feedback Mechanisms: Establish formal channels for employees to provide feedback and raise concerns related to EDI. Encourage open communication and transparency, and demonstrate a commitment to addressing feedback constructively.

Leadership Commitment: Ensure that senior management actively supports and champions EDI initiatives by leading by example, advocating for change, and providing visible support for diversity and inclusion efforts.

Community Partnerships: Foster partnerships with organisations and communities that share the company's EDI goals. Collaborate with external stakeholders to amplify impact, exchange best practices, and advocate for systemic change beyond the organisation.

Ongoing EDI Development and Monitoring:

Engage External Expertise: Collaborate with an external EDI expert to develop a new EDI Policy and Plan. Utilise resources such as the Arts Council EDI Toolkit to inform the development process.

Deadline and Accountability: Set a deadline of June 1, 2024, for completing the final EDI Policy and Plan. Establish clear accountability for key milestones and deliverables, ensuring timely progress and completion of the project.

Transparency and Communication: Communicate the company's commitment to EDI internally and externally. Publish the new policy on the company website to demonstrate transparency and accountability to stakeholders. Provide regular updates on progress towards EDI goals to keep employees informed and engaged in the process.