Code of Conduct

SXSW London - Ethical Framework

The SXSW Ethical Framework consists of the following documents: 

• SXSW London Code of Conduct: this is our public statement setting out our principles and expectations. It applies to all those who participate in the Festival in any way and applies across all platforms, whether online or in-person. The Director of Programming is responsible for the Code of Conduct.  

• SXSW London Ethical Code: this is our internal code setting out how decisions are made when ethical or moral issues arise when it comes to programming in particular, including conference speakers, musicians and filmmakers. This can be shared externally if requested. The Director of Programming is responsible for the Ethical Code. 

• SXSW London Ethical Sponsorship Policy: this is our internal policy setting out how partnership decisions are made, what our expectations are of our partners, as well as any partner industries that we will not work with. This can be shared externally if requested. The Commercial Director is responsible for the Ethical Sponsorship Policy.  

SXSW London is committed to reviewing the Ethical Framework on at least an annual basis, and throughout the year as issues may arise.

SXSW London - Code of Conduct 

Our Code of Conduct is our public statement setting out our principles. It applies to all those participating in SXSW London events in any way, both in-person and online, including partners, speakers, musicians, contributors, delegates, venues, suppliers and our workforce. 

SXSW London is a major business and arts festival that fosters open debate and helps creative people achieve their goals by serving as a platform for engaging, thought-provoking conversations and experiences. SXSW London celebrates creative exchange, collaboration and curiosity. We champion enironments where diverse industry voices learn, challenge, inspire and build understanding. 

SXSW London is not a place for behaviour that is off-topic, abusive, illegal, intimidatory or conducive to the spread of misinformation.  

SXSW London defines inappropriate behaviour as that which undermines the spirit of SXSW London, including any form of written, verbal or physical abuse or threats, the use of derogatory or discriminatory language, gestures or actions, any or all forms of harassment or discrimination, or any other targeted comments which may violate any laws or cause harm to another SXSW London participant before, during or after the SXSW London events, whether in-person, at satellite events, via the SXSW London mobile app, through social media channels, using the SXSW London submissions portal, while engaging in any online aspect of the events, or any other method of communication. 

SXSW London may take action at its discretion to address any individual(s) or group(s) it believes fail to meet the standards set out in this Code of Conduct, including, without limitation, revoking the violating parties’ credentials without refund and/or revoking the violating parties’ right to participate. 

Please contact hello@sxswlondon.com if you believe you’ve observed or experienced a violation of this Code of Conduct, and SXSW London will work to assess the situation via our internal processes and to respond as soon as possible. Every incident reported will be taken seriously and dealt with in the strictest confidence.  

Notifying SXSW London does not constitute or replace a notification to police or other authorities as applicable. 

All suspected violations of the law should be reported to the police. If you feel unsafe in your immediate situation, alert our staff, move to a safe location and dial 999. 

SXSW London - Ethical Code 

Our Ethical Code is an internal document that sets out how programming decisions are made and how ethical questions or issues that may arise are escalated and dealt with. 

SXSW London is an apolitical platform that celebrates and champions diverse voices and promotes and supports freedom of speech and freedom of expression but does not condone hate speech, harassment or discrimination in any form. 

We are aware of the fine balance to be maintained between supporting freedom of speech and freedom of expression on the one hand and preventing hate speech, harassment and discrimination on the other. We will assess potential contributors against, and ensure that all contributors agree to abide by, our Code of Conduct. 

In order to support its goals, SXSW London has the following internal processes against which we assess all potential contributors: 

• All contributors are initially reviewed against our Code of Conduct, risk profiled and proposed by the relevant Head of Department (Music, Screen or Conference) 

• Any proposed contributors who are deemed by the relevant Head of Department to be potentially controversial or high risk for any reason are then tabled at a meeting of the editorial committee to discuss in more detail. Certain contributors shall automatically be deemed high risk, including those from officially sanctioned jurisdictions. 

• The editorial committee, consisting of the CEO, Senior Directors and relevant Board members then discusses and makes a recommendation in respect of each contributor to the Board 

• If the editorial committee and/or the Board have valid concerns that a contributor crosses or may cross the line: 

• Such participants may not be allowed to participate in the Festival; or 

• SXSW London reserves the right to implement additional measures to maintain alignment with the Code of Conduct, such as not allowing politicians or controversial speakers to select their own moderators or interviewers 

• The Board signs off, approves, or rejects the recommendation and deals with any other escalations 

SXSW London - Ethical Sponsorship Policy 

Our Ethical Sponsorship Policy is an internal document setting out our expectations with regards to partners, sponsors and other commercial interests, how we work with them, who we will and will not work with, and how those decisions are made. 

2. COMMITMENT TO ETHICAL GOOD PRACTICE 

SXSW London is a major business and arts festival that fosters open debate and helps creative people achieve their goals by serving as a platform for engaging, thought-provoking conversations and experiences. SXSW London celebrates creative exchange, collaboration and curiosity. We champion environments where diverse industry voices learn, challenge, inspire and build understanding but we do not condone hate speech, harassment or discrimination in any form. 

SXSW London actively seeks opportunities to work together with external organisations to achieve these shared objectives. However, it is vital that SXSW London maintains its independence and does not allow external partnerships to bring the name of SXSW London into disrepute. 

This policy has been devised to ensure clarity and openness for all our stakeholders and to apply to all sponsorship related activities of SXSW London. 'Sponsorship' means payment (in cash or in kind) by a private or public sector organisation or individual, in return for public association with an activity, project, event or asset related to SXSW London. 

We welcome any comments and suggestions relating to this policy. 

2. ORGANISATIONS WE WILL NOT WORK WITH 

SXSW London will not accept sponsorship from organisations that could compromise who we are or what we do, or undermine our effectiveness in achieving our goals. It would not be appropriate to take sponsorship from organisations where: 

• Those organisations’ objectives are in direct conflict with our own goals or objectives, or could promote inaccurate or misleading messages about our commitment to our goals and objectives; 

• Those organisations do not comply with or are in conflict with our Code of Conduct; 

• Such a partnership could cause substantial damage to our reputation; 

• Such a partnership could materially jeopardise relationships with existing partners; and 

• The terms of such a partnership could compromise the independence of SXSW London. 

• We will not take sponsorship from organisations whose direct and principle lines of business cover any of the following activities: 

- Tobacco and tobacco related manufacturing; 

- Weapons and armaments manufacturing; 

- Military organisations; 

- Gambling; and 

- Pornography and adult entertainment. 

In addition to the above, we reserve the right to decline partnering with an organisation: 

• with a poor reputation or track-record for diversity, equality and/or inclusion; 

• with links to the spreading of misinformation; 

• associated with human rights abuses; or 

• linked to environmental harm or damage. 

3. SPONSORSHIP APPROVAL PROCESS 

Management Approvals: All proposed marketing and sponsorship deals must be approved by the relevant members of the Senior Management Team (i.e. the Commercial Director). 

Board Approvals: All proposed marketing and sponsorship deals with a value of more than £100,000 must be approved by both the Senior Management Team and the Board of Directors of Panarise Limited. 

SXSW Austin Approvals: All proposed top-level sponsors of SXSW London (i.e. those that have branding rights across an entire Thematic Track or material branding rights across the entire Event, e.g. higher tier or material Event sponsors) must be approved by SXSW Austin to ensure consistency with event content and the SXSW brand, reputation and goodwill. 

Ability to Withdraw: Contracts with partners must permit SXSW London / Panarise to withdraw from any partnership where any changes in circumstances mean that any part of this ethical sponsorship policy or our Code of Conduct becomes breached during the term of such partnership. 

4.COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY 

A full list of corporate sponsors providing over £50,000 in aggregate sponsorship revenue to SXSW London will be maintained on the SXSW London website. 

SXSW London will communicate its commitment to this policy to the organisation's stakeholders.