Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement

Dublin Book Festival is one of Ireland’s leading and most dynamic literary festivals, showcasing and celebrating Ireland’s writers, illustrators and publishers since 2006. At Dublin Book Festival, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment across all aspects of our operations, activities, events and programming. We believe that the stories we tell and the voices we amplify should reflect the rich diversity of those writing, illustrating and publishing in contemporary Ireland.

Our Vision

We envision a literature and festivals industry where diverse voices are celebrated and empowered, and where every reader and festival attendee can see themselves reflected in the stories we share. At Dublin Book Festival, through our year-round team, seasonally contracted staff, and Board, we are committed to doing our part to make this vision a reality.

Our Commitments

  • Inclusive Content: We believe in programming and curating events that not only entertain but
    educate and empower. We are committed to eliminating bias and stereotypes in our
    programming processes, ensuring that our events reflect diverse perspectives and
    experiences. The Dublin Book Festival practices an open call for submissions, inviting and welcoming applications from all walks of Ireland’s literary and creative world. The festival works with a broad and diverse range of contacts to ensure this open call has as wide a reach as possible.
  • Representation: We are committed to actively seeking out and supporting authors,
    illustrators, and creators from historically underrepresented communities, including
    but not limited to ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, and people with disabilities.
  • Community and Industry Engagement and Partnerships: We will continue to work in partnership with community organisations and industry bodies to promote diversity within the literary and festivals industry, ensuring that we are not just participants but leaders in driving diversity forward. We will continue to work closely with publishers and organisations who prioritise working with writers and illustrators typically underrepresented in Irish literature, through programming for one-off events, and by playing a key role in ongoing programmes that support such creatives and their professional development.
  • Equitable Practices: We are dedicated to creating fair opportunities at all levels of
    our company, from recruitment and hiring to promotion and leadership. We
    continuously review and improve our practices to ensure equitable access to
    opportunities for all individuals.
  • Continuous Learning: Our company is committed to fostering an environment of
    continuous learning and growth in DEI. We will seek out training and resources for all
    employees to deepen their understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how
    they can contribute to these goals.

Evaluation

Reviewing and evaluating how we have upheld our DEI policy forms a core part of our mid-year internal report, and our end-of-year executive report each year. The policy is approved by our Board and reviewed annually.