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DIVERSITY SHOULD BE A KEY

FOUNDATION OF THE BLUES IN THE
UK

We at the UKBlues Federation (UKBF) have
been extremely disturbed to hear of instances
of continuing racial prejudice and
discrimination within the UK blues
community, something which we, as

individuals and as an organisation, abhor and
to which we are totally opposed.

We have heard of cases of venues allegedly
not offering gigs to members of the BAME

community and, worse still, cancelling
bookings already made, apparently on
grounds of race. It is difficult enough for all
musicians to survive at present and it is
totally unacceptable for this to be happening.

The UKBF has made its stance on this very clear and we are currently finalising our own diversity

policy to which we will adhere to the very best of our endeavours. We are already taking steps to seek
to ensure greater diversity in the Board of the UKBF and will be making a further announcement in
this respect soon.

We call upon everybody within the UK blues community - venues, festivals, musicians, agents,

management, record labels, radio presenters and fans alike - to take steps to ensure that they too
become more diverse and help us all move away from the current climate of discrimination, inequality
and lack of diversity.

Stay safe, stay well.

Ashwyn Smyth

Chair
UKBlues Federation

Visit www.ukblues.org to find out more about the UKBlues Federation, how to support our work
and to join.

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