A welcoming and respectful trail for everyone
The Wylye Valley Art Trail is a celebration of creativity, community and the people who make our region special. We want everyone who takes part in or visits the trail to feel welcome, safe and respected.
This Code of Conduct sets out the standards we expect from participating artists, makers, venues, volunteers, organisers and visitors. By taking part in or attending WVAT, we ask everyone to help us create a positive, inclusive and enjoyable experience for all.
Our Expectations
We expect everyone involved with WVAT to:
- Treat others with courtesy, kindness and respect.
- Communicate in a friendly and professional manner.
- Respect different backgrounds, identities, beliefs and perspectives.
- Help create an inclusive and welcoming environment.
- Respect artists’ studios, homes, workplaces and exhibition spaces.
- Follow WVAT guidelines and reasonable requests from organisers and venues.
- Take responsibility for their own behaviour, both in person and online.
For Participating Artists and Venues
Artists and venues taking part in WVAT have a responsibility to provide a welcoming experience for visitors.
We ask participating artists and venues to:
- Treat all visitors fairly, respectfully and professionally.
- Provide accurate information about their work, opening times and facilities.
- Make their space as accessible and welcoming as reasonably possible, and clearly communicate any access limitations.
- Welcome visitors and engage with them appropriately during advertised opening hours.
- Ensure that anyone helping to run their venue understands and follows these expectations.
- Avoid behaviour, language or content that could reasonably be considered threatening, abusive, discriminatory, hateful or derogatory towards others.
- We recognise that WVAT takes place across a variety of studios, homes, workplaces and rural venues, and that accessibility will vary. What matters is being open and honest about what each venue can offer so visitors can make informed choices.
- Submit and exhibit original work created by the participating artist.
- Be transparent about the use of AI or other digital tools where they form part of the creative process.
For Visitors
Visitors are an important part of the trail, and we ask everyone to treat our artists, makers, volunteers and venues with the same respect that we expect from participants.
We ask visitors to:
- Treat artists, volunteers and venue staff courteously and respectfully.
- Respect private homes, studios, gardens, galleries and other exhibition spaces.
- Follow any reasonable requests or guidelines at individual venues.
- Take care around artwork, equipment and personal belongings.
- Raise questions or concerns politely and constructively.
Abusive, threatening, discriminatory, intimidating or aggressive behaviour towards artists, volunteers, venue staff or other visitors will not be tolerated.
What is not Acceptable
WVAT does not tolerate:
- Bullying, harassment or intimidation.
- Discriminatory, racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic or otherwise hateful behaviour.
- Threatening, abusive or aggressive language or behaviour.
- Repeated unwanted or hostile communication.
- Deliberately damaging artwork, property or venue spaces.
- Behaviour that makes another person feel unsafe or unwelcome.
- Presenting AI-generated or generative imagery as original artwork without clearly disclosing its use. WVAT reserves the right to exclude work that is primarily generated by artificial intelligence from the trail where it does not meet our expectations for original creative practice.
- Any other behaviour that seriously undermines the safety, dignity or enjoyment of others.
Raising a concern
If you experience or witness behaviour that you believe breaches this Code of Conduct, please let us know.
You can contact the WVAT team confidentially at:
We will listen to concerns respectfully and handle them as sensitively as possible. Where appropriate, we may contact those involved to understand what has happened and decide what action should be taken.
Breaches of this code
Where a participating artist, maker or venue is found to have seriously or repeatedly breached this Code, WVAT may take appropriate action. This may include a warning, removal from the website or directory, or exclusion from the current or future trail.
For serious incidents, WVAT reserves the right to take immediate action where necessary to protect the safety and wellbeing of others.
We also recognise that misunderstandings and disagreements can occur.
Our aim will always be to approach concerns fairly, proportionately and constructively.
The Wylye Valley Art Trail belongs to everyone who helps make it happen. By treating one another with kindness, respect and consideration, we can ensure that the trail remains an enjoyable and inclusive celebration of art, craft and the wider community.
Thank you for helping us make WVAT a welcoming experience for everyone.