My gurus - Nick Anderson

The Sick of the Fringe image
17 Apr 2019

Nick Anderson, Programme Producer at The Sick of the Fringe, looks back on the people who have inspired and shaped his career.

Arts leaders slam ‘new paternalism’ of diversity initiatives

Photo of Madani Younis
29 Mar 2019

Southbank Centre’s Creative Director has called for a “much more disruptive intervention”.

Investing in the workforce

A woman, on scaffolding, installing lighting in a theatre
28 Mar 2019

How can we attract a diverse workforce into the arts sector? Robert West says arts organisations can start by dismantling the barriers they are putting up themselves.

Experiencing words visually

Photo of Charlotte Arrowsmith in rehearsal for As You Like It
21 Mar 2019

Charlotte Arrowsmith, who is performing in two plays with the RSC this summer, explains the challenges and opportunities involved when deaf actors are cast in mainstream productions.

Encouraging signs

Charlotte Arrowsmith acting in As You Like It
20 Mar 2019

The casting of deaf actor Charlotte Arrowsmith in a current RSC production illustrates how committing to diversity does not mean being worthy or boring, says Jonathan Knott.

An investment in the future

Photo of Third Angel's work
18 Mar 2019

A paid internship scheme provides theatre company Third Angel with essential administrative support – and develops talent that will benefit the wider sector, the company writes.

MPs and arts organisations pledge to support disabled access

Photo of Graeae performer
25 Jan 2019

More than 100 people and organisations have signed The Cultural Inclusion Manifesto, making an urgent plea for strategic partnerships between Special Educational Needs organisations and cultural institutions.

Take action and let us in

Photo of Nicola Miles-Wildin rehearsing
24 Jan 2019

Limited opportunities are preventing the authentic voices of disabled directors and writers from being heard. The sector needs to stop talking and take action, says Nicola Miles-Wildin.

New network to champion access for Deaf and disabled musicians

Photo of Signkid
14 Dec 2018

Research aims to increase understanding of the hidden challenges facing disabled artists and musicians when recording, performing and applying for funding.

Trusting young people in care

Young people rehearsing dance routine
29 Nov 2018

Nathan Geering explains how a hip-hop dance production has helped give a voice to young people in the care system.

A vital contribution

School children laughing
29 Nov 2018

Vital Spark is a national initiative aiming to create more inclusive and diverse performances for children and young people. Tara Lopez tells the story.

Opportunities to take part in music ‘essential’ in care homes, says report

Musician playing a guitar in a care home
22 Nov 2018

An evaluation finds that interactive three-month musical programmes had “particularly strong effects upon people’s communication skills and mood”.

Proper changing places

Photo of mobiloo outside circus tent
22 Nov 2018

To be completely accessible and inclusive, Circus Starr realised that it had to improve one of the least glamourous aspects of its set-up - its toilets. Sarah Hall tells the story.

NPOs failing on access basics, say disabled artists

A gallery tour including people sitting down and a wheelchair user
03 Oct 2018

A Leeds-based collective has named a lack of accessible toilets, snobbish staff and ‘mega-expensive’ coffee among continuing barriers to equality.

Disabled people more engaged with arts than ever, figures reveal

A group of people including a wheelchair user in an art gallery
07 Sep 2018

Data from the Government’s Taking Part survey also suggests that 2017/18 saw record levels of arts engagement in England as a whole, though changes to the questionnaire could be skewing the findings.

Tackling class discrimination

The slogan "follow your dreams" overwritten with "cancelled"
30 Aug 2018

By taking a robust approach to understanding the social class make-up of the workforce, the cultural sector can address entrenched inequalities. Dave O’Brien suggests a way forward. 

Cultural value research hub backed by 5-year funding

People watching a live concert
10 Aug 2018

The research centre will aim to “pre-empt the needless wheel-spinning, data-churning and combative cross-talking that has characterised much of the past debate” about cultural value.

“Class gap” holds back young people from the arts, finds research

A man standing in front of a camera and microphone
10 Aug 2018

Two reports commissioned by Arts Council England found that cost and lack of confidence are major barriers to youth engagement.

€4m pan-European project to support disabled artists

A participant at We Dance festival in Birmingham
03 Aug 2018

New funding aims to bring disabled artists into the mainstream of European dance and theatre, and build a network committed to presenting their work.

National roll-out on the cards for Black Ticket Project

Photo of Black Ticket Project event
01 Jun 2018

The scheme, which offers free theatre tickets to young Black people, is hoping to expand following two successful crowdfunding campaigns.

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