News – Blueprint for a diverse future

A Diversity Manifesto aiming to improve policy and practice relating to diversity, equality and opportunity in the arts sector has been written by the National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) and produced in partnership with EQ, the national equality and diversity agency working in the creative industries. The document makes a series of recommendations to policy-makers and those working in the arts about how to bring about meaningful and lasting change in the sector. Specifically, the manifesto calls on policy-makers in national and local government whose work affects the arts to support good practice by continuing to offer financial rewards to organisations that progress on diversity, and providing resources to others to enable them to do better.
For the sector itself, education, employment practices, attitudes and research are seen as being crucial areas where diversity practices can be improved. Among its recommendations, the manifesto states that recruitment procedures need to change, with employers learning to assess skill levels without disadvantaging those who have not had access to formal qualifications or training. It advocates models of employment practice that imaginatively consider how a potential employee can enhance the organisation. Other suggestions include the funding of residencies by diverse arts organisations at prominent venues, so that both the organisation and the venue can learn from the experience; and developing organisational mentoring schemes to establish long-term links between venues and diverse arts organisations. David McCall, Chief Executive of EQ said, ?Diversity is a mainstream issue. If the creative industries do not wake up to the waste of talent and lack of work force diversity, it will put the UK?s competitive edge in jeopardy. The Diversity Manifesto is an important step towards achieving full equality within the arts sector.?

A copy of the Diversity Manifesto is available from the NCA website at http://www.artscampaign.org.uk