AOIBA - Code of Conduct

AOIBA - Code of Conduct

Last updated: July 26, 2026

This version approved by Committee July 2026

Welcome to AOIBA

The Association of International Bubble Artistes (AOIBA) is a global community built on creativity, collaboration, respect, and shared passion.

Our members come from many different countries, cultures, backgrounds, and experience levels. Whether performing professionally, exploring bubble art creatively, supporting the community, or attending events, we aim to create a professional, welcoming, inclusive and safe environment where all participants feel respected, included, and supported.

This Code of Conduct outlines the standards of behaviour, professionalism, and community responsibility expected of AOIBA members and participants.

These standards apply within AOIBA spaces and activities, including events and online platforms. They also reflect the wider professional values and expectations associated with being part of the AOIBA community.

As an international professional association, AOIBA encourages members to act with integrity, respect, professionalism, and consideration for others in ways that positively support both the community and the wider bubble performance industry.

This Code applies to:

  • AOIBA members
  • Event attendees
  • Volunteers
  • Instructors and performers
  • Committee Members
  • Participants in AOIBA online spaces and activities

By joining AOIBA or participating in AOIBA activities, individuals agree to uphold these shared values and expectations.

Our Community Values

AOIBA is built on:

  • Creativity and imagination
  • Mutual respect and kindness
  • Collaboration over competition
  • Professional integrity
  • Inclusivity and support
  • Safe and welcoming spaces

We recognise that the strength and reputation of our community is shaped by the conduct, professionalism, and support shown by its members, and that we all share responsibility for helping create a positive environment for others.

Expected Behaviour

As part of the AOIBA community, members are expected to:

  • Treat others with honesty, kindness, dignity, and respect
  • Maintain professional and respectful behaviour in all interactions
  • Always respect the personal boundaries of others
  • Be aware of how words, actions, and behaviour may affect others
  • Encourage and support fellow members rather than undermine them
  • Contribute to a welcoming, respectful, and professionally supportive environment for all participants

AOIBA events and gatherings are often relaxed, social, creative, and collaborative spaces.
We encourage friendship, creativity, collaboration, and social connection while continuing to respect personal boundaries, consent, and the comfort of others.

Respect, Boundaries and Consent

AOIBA is committed to creating spaces where members feel safe and respected.

Members are expected to:

  • Respect physical and emotional boundaries
  • Ask for consent before physical contact or close personal interaction
  • Respect another person’s decision, discomfort, or request to stop
  • Understand that behaviour intended as friendly or humorous may not always be appropriate or welcomed by others

If someone appears uncomfortable or asks for space, members are expected to respond respectfully and immediately.

Unacceptable Behaviour

Interactions within AOIBA should be positive and supportive. Behaviour that makes others feel unsafe, intimidated, excluded, or uncomfortable is not acceptable.

Unacceptable behaviour may occur in person, online, publicly, privately, or through ongoing patterns of conduct.

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Bullying or intimidation
  • Harassment or discrimination
  • Unwanted physical contact
  • Persistent or unwelcome attention
  • Sexual, suggestive, or inappropriate comments or behaviour
  • Deliberate humiliation or exclusion of others
  • Aggressive, threatening, or abusive behaviour
  • Behaviour that disrupts the safety or wellbeing of the community

AOIBA welcomes members from many countries, cultures, identities, backgrounds, and experiences. Discrimination, hostility, exclusion, or unfair treatment towards others has no place within the AOIBA community and is not consistent with the values of the association.

Professional Ethics

AOIBA is a professional community, and members are expected to act with integrity and respect toward one another and the wider industry.

Members contribute not only to their own professional reputation, but also to the reputation of AOIBA and the wider bubble performance industry. Through their conduct, professionalism, and creative work, members help shape how bubble artistry and the association are recognised both within the bubble community and across the wider creative industries.

Members are expected to:

  • Represent their skills, experience, and qualifications honestly
  • Respect intellectual property and creative ownership
  • Seek permission and give appropriate credit where possible
  • Support fellow artistes and contribute positively to the community
  • Communicate professionally with clients, venues, audiences, and other members
  • Avoid behaviour, public comments, or online communication that is abusive, knowingly false, malicious, harassing, or likely to seriously damage the reputation of AOIBA, its members, or the wider bubble community

Healthy discussion, creative inspiration, shared learning, questions, disagreement, and constructive criticism are encouraged.
Members may raise concerns, ask questions, or disagree with decisions or actions, but are expected to do so respectfully and through appropriate AOIBA channels.

Plagiarism, deliberate misrepresentation, intentionally harmful behaviour, or conduct that seriously damages the reputation of AOIBA or its members is not acceptable.

Anyone acting in an official AOIBA role, including Committee Members and Officers, is expected to follow this Code, uphold its standards, respect agreed Committee processes, and act in the best interests of the Association.

Online and Digital Spaces

The AOIBA community extends beyond physical events into online and digital spaces, including:

  • Social media
  • Messaging groups
  • Forums and online communities
  • Video meetings and livestreams

When participating in AOIBA online spaces, members are expected to:

  • Communicate respectfully and professionally
  • Be aware of tone and cultural differences
  • Respect privacy and personal boundaries
  • Avoid inappropriate, hostile, or overly personal communication
  • Seek consent before sharing photographs, videos, or personal information relating to others

Online Meetings and Video Calls

During online meetings, workshops, or video calls, members are expected to:

  • Behave respectfully, including on camera, off camera, on audio, and in chat
  • Allow others space to contribute
  • Help maintain a positive and welcoming environment
  • Avoid disruptive or inappropriate behaviour

Safety and Responsibility

Members are expected to work responsibly and safely in relation to:

  • Audiences and Volunteers
  • Venues
  • Equipment and props
  • Foam and bubble activities
  • Public spaces
  • Environmental considerations

Members should ensure they understand and follow the laws, regulations, safeguarding, and safety requirements that apply in the country, region, or venue where they are working. This includes holding appropriate insurance, licences, or permissions where required, and taking reasonable steps to reduce risk to themselves and others.

General best practice guidance may be provided separately within AOIBA Best Practice resources. Members remain responsible for checking and following any legal, safeguarding, insurance, licensing, or safety requirements that apply to their own work.

Raising Concerns and Seeking Support

If you experience or witness behaviour connected to AOIBA spaces, activities, events, online platforms, or member interactions that causes concern, you are encouraged to speak to someone.

For concerns connected to AOIBA, you may contact:

  • The AOIBA Wellbeing Officer
  • An AOIBA Committee Member
  • An Event Organiser
  • A member of the Event Wellbeing Team

At AOIBA events, members of the Wellbeing Team will be identifiable and available to support attendees. Please see individual event details for information.

Concerns raised with AOIBA will:

  • Be taken seriously
  • Be handled respectfully and sensitively
  • Be treated as confidentially as reasonably possible

AOIBA aims to ensure concerns are handled respectfully, fairly, and with an appropriate level of support.

For details of the AOIBA Wellbeing Officer and Committee Members, visit: www.aoiba.org/about-aoiba/
For details of Event Organisers and the Event Wellbeing Team, please see the relevant event information.

Shared Responsibility

We all share responsibility for helping create a community that is:

  • Professional
  • Welcoming
  • Inclusive
  • Respectful
  • Supportive
  • Safe

This includes looking out for one another, respecting boundaries, and speaking up when something does not feel right.

Upholding Our Community Standards

AOIBA expects all members and event participants to uphold the standards outlined in this Code of Conduct.

AOIBA recognises that misunderstandings can sometimes arise from differences in language, culture, communication style, neurodiversity, or social expectations. Where concerns are raised, AOIBA will consider context, impact, intent, and any pattern of behaviour, while keeping
safety, respect, and the wellbeing of the community central.

Where behaviour seriously or repeatedly conflicts with the standards outlined within this Code, AOIBA may take appropriate action to help protect the wellbeing, safety, and integrity of the community and its events. This may include written warnings, removal from AOIBA spaces or events, suspension of membership, or other proportionate measures where appropriate.

Any action taken will aim to be fair, proportionate, and respectful.

Ongoing Development

As AOIBA continues to evolve as an international professional association and creative community, this Code of Conduct will be periodically reviewed and updated through Committee oversight, member feedback, and evolving best practice.