1. Purpose and Principles
The Art Department, Paisley Ltd (“TAD”) welcomes media engagement that uplifts Paisley’s creative community, honours local heritage, and reflects our commitment to accessible storytelling, community empowerment, and creative integrity.
This policy outlines how journalists, filmmakers, photographers, broadcasters, and digital creators may request and obtain permission to access TAD-managed spaces, projects, and programmes. It is informed by best‑practice media access frameworks used by public-facing organisations, adapted for an arts, heritage, and community environment.
2. Scope
This policy applies to:
- TAD premises, studios, workshops, exhibitions, and project sites
- Off‑site activities delivered with community groups, artists, or partner organisations
- Media activity involving TAD staff, volunteers, participants, or commissioned artists
- Requests for breaking/on‑the‑day coverage, planned features, documentary filming, or creative media projects
3. Access Requirements
3.1 Permission and Accreditation
All media representatives must obtain prior approval from TAD’s Communications & Engagement Team.
Requests should include:
- Names and roles of personnel attending
- Purpose and editorial angle of the coverage
- Equipment list (lighting, audio, drones, stabilisers, etc.)
- Any specific access needs or sensitivities
- Evidence of professional accreditation (NUJ card, company ID, or equivalent)
TAD may require:
- A short safety or heritage‑care briefing
- Proof of public liability insurance (£5m minimum; £10m for large‑scale filming)
- A risk assessment for non‑standard activity (e.g., large rigs, drones, tripods in public areas)
3.2 Accompaniment
Depending on the nature of the activity, media personnel may be accompanied by a TAD representative to ensure:
- Respectful engagement with community participants
- Protection of artworks, heritage objects, and archival materials
- Safe movement within active workshops or installation spaces
- Compliance with safeguarding requirements
4. Scheduling and Restrictions
4.1 Advance Scheduling
Media visits must be arranged in advance to ensure:
- Minimal disruption to workshops, classes, and community programmes
- Respect for participants’ privacy and comfort
- Protection of fragile artworks, installations, and heritage materials
- Adequate staffing for safe facilitation
4.2 Restricted Areas
Access may be limited or denied for:
- Spaces containing confidential project materials
- Works‑in‑progress where artists have not consented to filming
- Areas involving minors or vulnerable adults without safeguarding clearance
- Conservation or installation environments requiring controlled conditions
- Partner venues with their own access rules
5. Consent, Privacy, and Safeguarding
TAD places community dignity and ethical storytelling at the centre of all media engagement.
5.1 Individual Consent
Media representatives must obtain explicit consent from:
- Artists whose work is being filmed
- Participants appearing in interviews or identifiable footage
- Staff or volunteers featured in coverage
- For minors or vulnerable adults, parental/guardian consent and compliance with TAD safeguarding protocols are mandatory.
5.2 Community Sensitivity
TAD reserves the right to decline requests that:
- Misrepresent Paisley’s communities
- Conflict with TAD’s values of empowerment, accessibility, and respectful heritage representation
- Risk harm, stigma, or exploitation
- Commercialise or distort community-led narratives
5.3 Social Media & Press Articles
- TAD reserves the right to remove, hide or respond to articles, comments published on any of its channels and where it has the control and right of access. TAD will not respond to unfounded claims, misrepresentations or negative commentary that causes harm to individuals or harm to the charity’s public mission and programme of public benefit. TAD does not accept responsibility for any free expression of the public press, journal or other external media.
6. Safety and Heritage Care Protocols
Although TAD’s environments are generally low‑risk, safety and heritage protection remain essential.
- Media personnel must:
- Follow instructions from TAD staff
- Use equipment safely and without obstructing public access
- Avoid touching or moving artworks, archival items, or fragile installations
- Comply with any PPE requirements in workshop environments
- Respect capacity limits in small heritage spaces
Drone use requires:
- CAA‑compliant licensing
- A site‑specific risk assessment
- Approval from TAD and relevant landowners
7. Intellectual Property and Creative Rights
7.1 Ownership and Usage
Media representatives must respect:
- Artist copyright
- Exhibition licensing agreements
- Restrictions on photographing or filming certain works
- TAD’s brand identity and visual guidelines
- Footage or images must not be used in ways that:
- Misrepresent TAD’s mission
- Alter or distort artworks without permission
- Conflict with existing artist agreements
7.2 Commercial Filming
Commercial productions (advertising, drama, branded content) require:
- A formal location agreement
- Fees where applicable
- Additional insurance
- Review of scripts or storyboards if sensitive heritage spaces are involved
8. Approval Process
All media access requests should be directed to:
Communications & Engagement Team
The Art Department, Paisley Ltd
Email: marketing@art-department.org
Requests will be reviewed case‑by‑case, considering:
- Alignment with TAD values
- Community impact
- Operational feasibility
- Safety and safeguarding requirements
- Artist and partner permissions
TAD aims to be as accommodating as possible while protecting the integrity of our spaces, people, and creative work.
9. Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed annually or following:
- Significant organisational changes
- New safeguarding or legal requirements
- Major incidents or operational shifts
- Feedback from media partners, artists, or community groups
10. Summary Statement
The Art Department supports media engagement that uplifts Paisley’s creative community, honours its heritage, and champions accessible, ethical storytelling. Access is granted with care to ensure safety, respect, and integrity for all involved.
The Art Department, Paisley Ltd
0141 847 1122 | Work
@artdeptpaisley
