Cllr Gerry Breen, representing the Lord Mayor of Dublin Naoise Ó Muirí, will officially launch a voluntary code of practice for Dublin’s Street Performers on Tuesday 31st July 2012. The launch will take place at the top of Grafton Street by St. Stephens Green at 12.45pm. As well as entertainment, the launch will give street performers and business people the opportunity to get information on the code.  
 
The code has been proposed by Dublin’s Street Performers and developed with local traders and Dublin City Council. It will be piloted for a pilot period of three months. The code covers issues such as Amp Free Zones, Behaviour, Crowd Control and Health & Safety.
 
Busking & Street Performance have long held a special place in the hearts of Dubliners and are part of the fabric of the city. They help make Dublin such a special place to live, work and visit. In designing the code the street performers have recognised the need for partnership and the need to work with Dublin Businesses, Residents and the City Council.
 
Speaking about the code, Dublin City Council Arts Officer, Ray Yeates said “This voluntary code honours the unique contribution that buskers make to city life while asking them to respect their fellow citizens and adjoining businesses. The code is for everyone to adopt and discuss and in three months time it will be reviewed by Council as to its workability and enforcement.”
 
Martin Harte from Temple Bar Traders says “Temple Bar Traders are delighted with the introduction of this code, a positive first step which we will believe we greatly assist in making the city an even better, more pleasant place for street performers, the public and the businesses at large”.
 
Local street performer Brian O`Connell who performs his circus based act under the name Tremendous Trevor said “Street performance is a time honoured art form that adds to the attractiveness and colour of Dublin City. Street performers bring life and animation to Dublin`s streets and give visitors a positive feel as they shop or go about their daily business. We welcome this step forward together”.
 
 
Full details of the code are available to download from: http://www.dublincity.ie/RECREATIONANDCULTURE/EVENTS/Pages/EventsinDublin.aspx
 
 
 
ENDS
 
For more information please contact:
Dublin City Council Press Office, Block 3 Floor 3, Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8. T:  01-222 2107   F:  01-222 2681. E. press_office@dublincity.ie
 
 
Notes to Editor:
 
The code will be officially launched between 12.45 – 3.00pm on Tuesday 31st July 2012 at the top of Grafton Street. There will be an MC who will introduce the acts and Cllr Breen and also speak about the code. There will be a photo call at 1.05 with Cllr Breen, Street Performers and stakeholders.

All Street Performers and Buskers will be able to sign up to the code on the day and copies of the code will be distributed to business in the city centre.

The trial period for the code is 3 months after which time it will be reviewed.

Codes of Conduct:

• Volume
• Amp Free Zones
• Proximity to other performers
• Proximity to dwellings/businesses
• Pitch Ethics
• Silent Acts
• Behaviour
• Sale of Merchandise
• Performance Times
• Crowd Control
• Repertoire
• Drumkits
• Repeat Offenders
• Health & Safety
• Respect of Code
• Benefits
• New Performers