Long-time B.C. electronic music festival on pause following sexual violence allegations

“We realize that types of sexual violence exist in our society and we choose accountability for the purpose festivals engage in in this,” organizers said in the release.

The on line edition of this year’s competition was established to get started July 23, but organizers say it is really been postponed so a evaluation can be performed of the insurance policies and procedures that are in place to preserve attendees, workers and performers protected from sexual violence or abuse.

The announcement arrived after allegations have been created about Uk artist Billy Kenny, who has performed Shambhala before and was established to conduct as component of the on line function this 12 months.

‘Dismantle rape culture’

Initially, on July thirteen, organizers introduced that Kenny had been eradicated from its house electronic streaming function.

“We choose any allegations of assault, irrespective of whether it be bodily, verbal or sexual, really very seriously and we do not condone that conduct in any way,” it explained on Twitter.

Outrage grew steadily on line as extra people today spoke out about Kenny and his participation at functions like Shambhala.

Now organizers of Shambhala say they will straight away undertake track record checks for artists and have “a zero-tolerance plan for assault of any variety.”

The festival will also do further schooling for workers about handling experiences of sexual harassment or violence at the competition.

“We know that these steps won’t minimize the trauma felt by anybody who has knowledgeable sexual violence,” organizers explained in the release. “But we go ahead with the motivation to dismantle rape tradition and we choose accountability for the purpose festivals engage in in this.

“We would like to offer you our sincerest apologies to all of people afflicted and thank people who exhibited the courage to communicate out.”

Various people today on line recommended the competition for using further motion.

The competition has grown steadily due to the fact 1998 when about five hundred people today attended. That quantity has grown to extra than 17,000 in current several years. 

Organizers say they consider Shambhala Tunes Festival a chief in harm reduction. In 2015, it began offering information and absolutely free drug tests for attendees who smuggled in the substances. The code of perform agreed to by attendees when they acquire a ticket prohibits the possession of illicit drugs. 

Solutions for Sexual Wellbeing also offers sexual wellbeing solutions at the competition.

Organizers have not but responded to a request from CBC News for further comment on its release.