BLACMEX research and the collected research data focus is on creative industries, in particular the music & entertainment sector; the Black music genre ; creative industries music shareholders and stakeholders in particular sector & community engagement and relationship building, international exportability ; advocacy, sustainability, and equity challenges.

Purpose of the research. 

• The types of research intervention include, questionnaire, interview,  consultation, focus groups etc. 

• The nature of participation is Voluntary with consent confirmed and privacy and data collection policies attached.

• Participants are provided opt-out notice, by unsubscribing or written notice by email to info@blacmex.uk requesting for withdrawal from the study where personal data is used.

• Where personal contact details are provided, notice regarding the usage of the data during research, dissemination and storage, including how the information will be shared with participants and any access and benefits-sharing that may be applicable.

• Future publishing, archiving and reuse of the data, explaining to participants the benefits of data sharing and indicating whether research data will be deposited in a recognised repository, naming the organisation responsible for the repository (e.g. UK Data Service, your institutional repository, public domain accordingly etc.).

• Contact details of the participants and  to file a complaint to info@blacmex.uk

Additional information if personal information is collected from participants (for example their name, where they live, information that can disclose their identity), see BLACMEX Privacy Policy for;

• How personal information will be processed and stored and for how long (e.g. signed consent forms, names or email addresses in online surveys, people’s visuals in video recordings).

• Procedures for maintaining confidentiality of information about the participant and information that the participant shares.

• Procedures for ensuring ethical use of the data: procedures for safeguarding personal information, maintaining confidentiality and de-identifying (anonymising) data, especially in relation to data archiving and reuse.

UK General Data Protection Regulation considerations 

• Researchers undertaking research in the UK, and where personal data will be stored, need to comply with the requirements of the UK GDPR from 1 Jan 2021.

• Researchers will need to identify for which of the six lawful reasons (Information Commissioner’s Office, ICO) personal data will be processed; this will inform what the information sheet and the informed consent form should include.

• If the reason is consent, it needs to be freely given, informed, unambiguous, specific and affirmative; participants need to be able to withdraw their consent for the processing of personal data (this will not affect the lawfulness of the processing up to that point).

• The information sheet should also contain some specific information including: 

• The contact details of the Data Controller (the entity that determines the reason for processing personal data, this can be a responsible person within the researcher’s organisation or the researcher), and the organisation’s dedicated Data Protection Officer.

• Who will receive or have access to the personal data, including information on any safeguards if the personal data is to be transferred outside the UK. 

• A clear statement on the right of the participant to request access to their personal data and the correction (rectification) of removal (erasure) of such personal data.

• A reminder that the participants have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). 

• The period of retention for holding the data or the criteria used to determine this. (If data are to be archived for re-use, then the retention period should be indefinite.)