36 Hours

POLICY

Nora

36 hours is a not-for-profit community project that aims to ensure that anyone and everyone feels welcome and valued as a creative.

Rules:

  • fits through the door
  • don’t be a dick
  • doesn’t risk public health

Policy on Potentially Harmful or Restricted Artwork

1. Purpose

This policy outlines how the 36 Hours Team manages artwork that may be considered harmful, illegal, or classified as hate speech, while upholding our values of artistic integrity, community wellbeing, and respect for our venue partners.

2. Our Approach to Artistic Expression

At 36 Hours, we view the exhibition of artwork as a form of performance art. Our goal is to preserve the original message and intent of every submitted piece, regardless of whether we personally agree with it. We believe all artwork deserves to be treated with equal dignity and respect.

3. Responsibilities to Venues and Visitors

While we support artistic freedom, we must also honour the requirements of the venues that generously host our events as well as the wellbeing of visitors who support their communities by attending. For this reason, some works may need to be altered in their physical presentation to ensure the safety, comfort, and legal compliance of the exhibition environment.

4. Criteria for Censorship

Artwork may be subject to physical censorship if it is reasonably classified as:

  • Hate speech, or
  • Illegal under applicable laws.

Censorship is not intended to erase the work but to contextualise it within a broader dialogue about the role of artists and the impact of censorship in art spaces.

5. Method of Censorship

If a piece meets the criteria above:

  • The artwork will still be included in the exhibition.
  • The physical artwork will be covered with a red cloth.
  • The original description, title, and contextual information will remain visible (though some wording may have to be covered in red tape if illegal).

We regard this act of covering the work as part of its artistic interpretation an intentional gesture meant to provoke discussion and reflection.

6. Digital Exhibition

In the digital version of the exhibition:

  • Censored works will appear in a separate, clearly marked section.
  • Visitors will have the choice to view or skip this section.

This approach ensures transparency while allowing viewers autonomy over their experience.

7. Communication With Artists

Artists whose work requires censorship will be notified as soon as we receive your artwork. We will discuss the reasoning, process, and how their piece will be represented in both the physical and digital spaces.

8. Commitment to Respect

We commit to handling all artworks, censored or not, with care, respect, and professionalism. Our intention is never to silence artists, but to navigate the intersection of expression, community safety, and legal responsibility in an open, thoughtful manner.