Tackling diversity in children's arts: what we've learned in a year

A man in a wheelchair performing for a group of young children
18 Jul 2019

Tara Lopez identifies three key themes that have emerged so far from the four-year Vital Spark initiative.

'They let us pick any artist in the world': the freedom to create relatable theatre

Photo of Japanese artists Chim↑Pom
18 Jul 2019

The Contact Young Curators programme gave Wez Thistlethwaite the opportunity to re-engage his creative muscles by co-curating a world premiere at this year’s Manchester International Festival.

Austerity is undermining children’s access to culture, finds research

A photo of a boy holding a tablet
12 Jul 2019

An LSE researcher said children’s development is being thwarted by Government policy, but argued the situation could be improved if recent welfare cuts were reversed.

Call for orchestras to act on disability

Photo of James Rose
09 Jul 2019

A report says “radical, bold action and a sense of collective responsibility” are needed to transform inclusion practices in the arts sector.

Toolkit tackles ‘class crisis’ in arts sector

Photo of young employees
05 Jul 2019

A new report warns organisations that “everyone you let in though the back door will disadvantage someone without those connections”.

Three comments that reveal Tristram Hunt’s approach to cultural inclusion

A photo of V&A Dundee
05 Jul 2019

The V&A Director warned against getting “too romantic about what Stratford was like before the Olympics”.

Government should fund young creatives to build diversity, says report

Photo of a musician
05 Jul 2019

Many BAME young people interviewed felt that “drama and acting was more for white people and that music was more for Black people”.

Tristram Hunt ‘not interested’ in V&A prayer room

A photo of a gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum
27 Jun 2019

The V&A Director is unconvinced by arguments for a dedicated prayer room in V&A East.

Southbank Creative Director warns of 'cultural apartheid' risk

Photo of Madani Younis
26 Jun 2019

Madani Younis said "institutions that have historically not given a shit are saying 'we’re going to start caring'", but called for a faster pace of change.

We need to work harder on donor diversity

Photo of people socialising
20 Jun 2019

For too long arts organisations have limited their individual giving efforts to white British donors. Michelle Wright urges an approach that prioritises donor diversity.

Paying artists for their time

Photo of Embroidered Forest Scene by Dharma Taylor
20 Jun 2019

Why do so many artists not include a fee for their own time when they apply for funding? Lilli Geissendorfer explains how Jerwood Arts is challenging a pervasive low-pay culture.

Thinking big about health

Photo of The Hub at Wellcome Collection
20 Jun 2019

The Hub at Wellcome Collection brings together academics and practitioners to tackle issues like rest and busyness, rare dementias and inclusive research, writes Harriet Martin.

From crisis to creativity

Photo of four women throwing scarfs into the air
20 Jun 2019

Nottingham Refugee Week shows how opportunity can come out of a crisis when communities work together, writes Anna Ball.

Children from deprived areas shut out of music qualifications

A man sitting at a computer
31 May 2019

Research finds that “large geographical areas are completely without music provision at A level”.

Cultural attractions still fall short on accessibility, finds report

A photo of visitors in an art gallery, including a wheelchair user
31 May 2019

Only one in four of the top 100 venues are considered to be more than 90% accessible.

Improving the volunteer experience

A photo of a volunteer in the research room at The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre
30 May 2019

How can arts organisations best nurture a thriving and committed community of volunteers? Robin Hall shares her experience of gaining accreditation from the Investing in Volunteers standard.

Wheelchair users barred from online bookings

A photo of an empty theatre auditorium
24 May 2019

New research finds only 4% of bookings that included wheelchair access needs were made online, compared to 60% of all transactions.

Join the club

Photo of Manchester Collective filming in a derelict room in Hull
23 May 2019

Adam Szabo shares seven principles that have helped Manchester Collective attract younger audiences to its classical concerts.

Access to entry-level roles

Photo of Cultural Ambition Project in Wales
23 May 2019

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.

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.

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