Equality

Children and young people

Many entry-level roles in the arts are taken by overqualified graduates, but a project in Wales is opening up opportunities to those most suited to them, says Sarah Mair Hughes.

Human resources

Wales

Making the impossible possible

A photo of an Open Arts performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream

23 May 2019

Last month, weekly arts group participants with sensory impairments, physical disabilities and mental illnesses came together to perform an adapted Shakespeare play in Belfast. Eileen Branagh explains the process of creative collaboration that allowed the cast to realise their ambitions.

Diversity beyond visible representation

Photo of EVIDENCE DANCE COMPANY in New Conversations featuring Annique Roberts, Courtney Paige, Ross Keon Thoulouis & Shayla Caldwell

15 May 2019

Culturally diverse work is becoming more prominent, but the infrastructure supporting BAME artists still needs to improve, argues Pawlet Brookes.

Audience development

Letter: Trans identity is not up for debate

14 May 2019

Opinion

Artists, activists and cultural workers argue that trans activists' protests against arts programming are part of a legitimate struggle for equal rights.

Management

Musicians 'fobbed off' on access requests

10 May 2019

Fear of negative reactions is deterring Deaf and disabled musicians from mentioning their access needs when talking to promoters, venues or festivals about performing opportunities.

ACE pledges £1.5m to grassroots music venues

10 May 2019

Previously criticised as “too posh for pop”, Arts Council England has voiced support for genres including rock and hip-hop.

Rural areas suffer from ACE funding bias

A photo of a sculpture surrounded by green fields

10 May 2019

An evidence review by Arts Council England suggests a reduction in London funding “should naturally lead to greater potential for funding rural organisations”.

Is it time for quotas?

Photo of a woman suspened on the side of a building, in a red dress, over a grey city landscape

09 May 2019

Having recently announced that South East Dance is to produce an all-female dance programme, Cath James discusses the complex issue of gender quotas.

A 'nearly good news' story

Photo of two women, one is celebrating with here hand in the air in front of a macbook

09 May 2019

Christine Hamilton considers how much has changed since the publication of her report on women in the Scottish arts sector three years ago, and what still needs to be done.

Policy

Taking inspiration from sport

Photo of Alex Morgan, captain of the United States women's soccer team, by Jamie Smed

09 May 2019

Why are many women in the arts not progressing into leadership roles? Alex Marshall asks if there are lessons to be learned from the world of sport.

Changing the narrative

Photo of a cast iron sculpture of a woman using a megaphone

09 May 2019

By opening up more realistic discussions around motherhood, Motherworks seeks to support those suffering unnecessarily. Ruth Dudman explains.

My Gurus: Corrina Eastwood and Charlotte Elliston

Photo of Charlotte Elliston and Corrina Eastwood

09 May 2019

Arts People

Corrina Eastwood and Charlotte Elliston, Co-Directors of feminist arts organisation Sweet 'Art, look back on the people who have inspired and guided their work.

Human resources

Arts leaders back mentoring scheme for graduate women

03 May 2019

High profile arts leaders have signed up to the new ‘University Women in the Arts’ scheme, which will offer one-to-one support to women seeking a career in the sector after graduating with an arts degree.

Education

Arts Council calls in Plain English Campaign

A light bulb in front a a blackboard with thought bubble drawings

03 May 2019

The campaigning group which challenges “gobbledygook, jargon and misleading public information” has been brought in to help stamp out meaningless and inaccessible language.

A sensory new world

A photo of a man performing with a guitar to a disabled audience with a sensory set

02 May 2019

Lucy Garland explains how her company makes theatre accessible to adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

A seat at the table

Photo of Imrana speaking at the Power of Community symposium

24 Apr 2019

Challenging the notion of a ‘hard-to-reach community’ in Luton, Imrana Mahmood explores the need to create pathways that lead to meaningful inclusion.

Audience development

Participatory arts

Cultural commissioning

The arts in a backpack

23 Apr 2019

Children and young people

An Action for Children’s Arts study recommends that every child at primary school should have five quality arts experiences in the school year. Chris Jarvis explains how the Arts Backpack project is working to make this a reality.

Access

Education

Engagement