Friendly Spaces Policy
Last updated: 6/8/2026
This is a general policy written to outline the standards Small Press Scotland holds all visitors, exhibitors, participants and staff to at our public events, such as our festivals, and our workshop and networking days. More specific versions of this policy may be tailored as needed, but this policy will be our default standard.
1.0 Policy overview
We want our events to create spaces where creators of all backgrounds can share their work, and all of their fans can show their appreciation. Anyone exhibiting at or visiting our events agrees to follow the guidelines below. This policy will be arbitrated by the Small Press Scotland team on a common sense basis. Please help us to maintain our friendly spaces — if you believe this policy has been broken by anyone, please inform a member of our staff or a steward.
1.1 Breaking this policy
You will be asked to leave our events if you ignore warnings about breaches in these following guidelines. Furthermore, egregious examples of or repeatedly breaching these guidelines may result in us banning you from our events in the future.
2.0 Conduct
All attendees of our events will be expected to treat one another with respect. This includes:
- Respecting the stewards and staff. Be polite to Small Press Scotland staff and stewards, and the staff or assistants of the event's venue.
- Refraining from using offensive, hostile or intimidating language. This includes but is not limited to homophobic, transphobic, or racist language.
- Being considerate and careful of your surroundings. Don't misuse, damage or misappropriate others' property.
- Not engaging in 'hard sales' or 'haggling' tactics.
- Keeping spaces clean and tidy. Don't drop litter, and don't block walkways or fire exits with boxes or banners.
- Being mindful of the space you occupy. Do not inhibit the access of others. For example, do not build table displays that hang over another exhibitor's space; don't block access to an exhibitor's table by forming a queue across them; do not linger in main doorways, blocking footfall traffic.
- Being respectful of the venue. Do not create any lasting marks at the venue.
3.0 Photography, videography, recording and content generation at our events
Images in which people can be identified are a form of personal data. In UK law, filming and photography for personal, non-commercial, non-broadcasting use is permitted in public spaces. Small Press Scotland operates our events in private venues. Therefore, as an organisation we are allowed to determine who can or cannot record at our events. We ask all attendees to follow these guidelines to help maintain a collective sense of safety and dignity.
3.1 Consent in recording media
You must obtain the express consent of all subjects prior to taking any photographs or recording video or audio (a.k.a “media”) at our events.
- Consent must be an enthusiastic yes. Uncertain or hesitant responses should be treated as “no”. If you do not have consent, you must not record media of that subject.
- Consent must be informed. You must tell all subjects what you intend to use the recorded media for (e.g. a personal instagram, a public podcast, etc.)
- Consent can be withdrawn at any time. If a subject asks you to stop, you must do so without question.
- Subjects can request you delete media. At any time a subject can request that you delete media you have recorded of them, and you must do so immediately.
Reports of nonconsensual recording will be taken seriously by Small Press Scotland, and anyone engaging in this behaviour will be asked to immediately leave the event.
3.2 Secret or undisclosed recording devices.
You may not bring any form of hidden, disguised or undisclosed photography or recording devices to our events, even if it is not in operation. It is at the discretion of Small Press Scotland staff and stewards what counts as a secret device, but they can include:
- Meta AI Glasses (also known as “pervert glasses”)
- Spy cameras (also known as “nanny cameras”)
- Covert listening devices (also known as “hidden microphones”)
Anyone seen to be wearing, carrying or operating these devices will be asked to leave our event. Due to the implicit breach of trust and dignity created by these devices, no warnings will be given around this policy.
Use of such devices with disclosure may be permitted, if sought in advance, and measures are taken to re-disclose them. For example, an attendee wearing Meta AI Glasses may be allowed to attend if they wear a badge disclosing that they are wearing a recording device and that they may be recording at any time.
3.3 Small Press Scotland Photography
Small Press Scotland plans to take photos and record videos during the running of our events. These photos and videos will be used by Small Press Scotland to promote future events, and to illustrate the work we do for our community. Such content may be used in press releases, printed publicity, and published on our website. They will be stored securely, and we will delete them after they are no longer needed for publicity purposes. We may also share these photos with relevant partners at our discretion, such as with organisations collaborating with us at that specific event, or with venues we work with.
As general policy, while photos and videos may be taken where children are present, this media will not be shared or published without first obscuring and anonymising them.
Notices that photography will be taking place will be present on our event websites, when purchasing tickets, and displayed physically at main entrances, and throughout our events.
If you see a member of the Small Press Team taking a photo or video, you can always request to be left out. If you were unaware that you were the subject of a photo or video that has since been made public, or have concerns about a photo or video of you that has been taken, please email us at hello@smallpress.scot with the subject line “Photography Objection at [Event] on [Date the event took place]”. You can request to see all images of yourself, and for us to delete them. As a community interest company with limited resources, we will aim to reply to these requests within 28 working days, though we may prioritise actions (such as removing photos from public spaces) over replying.
4.0 Work themes
Applicable to market-style events.
When displaying works for exhibition or for sale, we expect exhibitors to follow these guidelines:
- Works that promote discrimination (including but not limited to sexuality, race, gender, religion or age) are banned and can not be displayed or sold at our events.
- Works featuring AI-generated content (e.g. art, words, etc) are banned and can not be displayed or sold at our events.
- NSFW or 18+ material can not be openly displayed. This material can be kept out of sight or out of reach of younger attendees with only non-explicit samples on display. Adequate age rating warnings should be available.
- Trigger warnings should be disclosed on the covers of works or at the start of presentations when appropriate.
5.0 Masking and illness
Applicable where we believe a general masking effort is necessary for the safeguarding of community members.
Contagious illnesses like Covid-19 are an ongoing problem. Throughout all arts communities you will find friends and peers who are disabled and/or immuno-compromised. For their benefit and safeguarding we firmly request that you wear a mask when attending, if you are able to.
We will have disposable masks available for free throughout our events, and in offshoot zones and workshop spaces. You are of course welcome and encouraged to bring your own mask, as it may be more comfortable!
We will have signage throughout our events asking attendees to wear masks. Our events operate under Scottish Government Covid regulations. If you are or suspect you are sick with a contagious airborne illness (flu, cold, COVID-19, etc) we kindly ask that you please be considerate of your fellow community members and consider not attending the event, to reduce the chances of spreading illnesses.
