Dean Emilie Gardberg: Our activities are sustainable only when our community members are safe
In our recruitment decisions – whether as part of our own activities or our collaboration projects – we will make sure that not a single student has to be afraid of being exposed to inappropriate behaviour, says Sibelius Academy dean Emilie Gardberg.
On 30 May 2024, the online media Long Play published an article about a prominent classical music professional, “the Musician” who has been engaging in inappropriate, sexually suggestive behaviour and abuse of power towards young men in the classical music field.
The University of the Arts Student Union released its own statement on the matter, calling for support for the victims and active measures from those in positions of power.
According to the Long Play article, people are reluctant to report the “Musician’s” behaviour because the “Musician” holds power, the circles are small, and especially at the beginning of their careers, young individuals in a competitive field are dependent on work opportunities provided by others.
The article also features experiences from students at Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy. I am deeply saddened and sorry for the severe abuse of power they have faced in the professional field, of which we had no prior knowledge. The “Musician” is not employed by Uniarts Helsinki.
The Student Union contacted me immediately after the article was published. I greatly appreciate that we can have ongoing and direct discussions about issues with students.
I also want to thank the young musicians featured in the article for their courage to speak out despite the fear of being stigmatised. I hope their example encourages everyone to be part of the cultural change and to bring to light any inappropriate behaviour they experience or witness.
The Sibelius Academy has previously been in the public eye regarding the theme of the article, and we have been working determinedly for years to prevent harassment and inappropriate behaviour. A cultural change in the arts sector is underway, but we also need to accelerate it. By addressing these issues, we impact the future working environment across the entire arts field.
At Uniarts Helsinki, our job is to ensure a safe environment for everyone. No student should experience any form of inappropriate behaviour in their study environment.
We have paid special attention to two things: lowering the threshold for reporting inappropriate treatment and preventing incidents in advance. This has involved extensive and open discussions about the pedagogical responsibilities of our teachers. We have also focused on supporting those who have experienced inappropriate treatment and monitoring the progress.
We have updated the university’s guidelines and procedures, from ethical principles to practical instructions for handling conflict situations. These guidelines have been discussed and trained with faculty, staff and students in various contexts. All reported cases are handled according to a clear process.
I want to continue the discussion on this topic with our students and am personally committed to doing everything I can to develop an even healthier operational culture. I want to work towards making the music field a safe place to study and work. Our activities are sustainable only when our community members are safe.
In our recruitment decisions – whether as part of our own activities or our collaboration projects – we will make sure that not a single student has to be afraid of being exposed to inappropriate behaviour.