A flagship city nominated as the UK?s Capital of Culture must face up to its responsibility to be truly inclusive. With this in mind, the state of culturally diverse arts in Liverpool was the subject of a recent debate which provided a platform to air and address key issues for the culturally diverse community. Denrele Ogunwa explains.
Liverpool?s role as a culturally inclusive Capital of Culture was the subject of a lively debate at Blackbourne House in Liverpool last month. Entitled ?The World in One City? and organised by decibel and Arts Council England?s Roots project in association with BBC Radio Merseyside, it was the first of a series of high profile debates around cultural diversity in the arts. It will start to lay down foundations for a formal Merseyside Black Artists network which could help to represent and support artists and organisations in the lead up to Capital of Culture 2008 and beyond.
The debate took place in front of an audience of artists and representatives of organisations from the culturally diverse sector. It brought together artists from diverse backgrounds with organisations that are trying to connect with hard to reach communities. Chairing the debate was BBC Radio Merseyside lunchtime presenter Roger Phillips; panelists included Colin Hilton from Liverpool City Council, Prashant Nayak from the Milap Festival Trust, Bryan Biggs from Bluecoat Arts Centre, Gemma Bodinetz from Liverpool Everyman/Playhouse, Maxine Brown from the Merseyside Dance Initiative and decibel Programme Manager, Samenua Sesher. The debate was aired on BBC Radio Merseyside?s lunchtime show together with a phone-in, and has fed into further online debate on the BBC Radio Merseyside website.
Diverse questions
The issues raised will have resonance across the arts sector and pose key questions. For example, Liverpool won its Capital of Culture bid on the strength of its people, and in particular the people that make up the World in One City. But how can we ensure that the policy and practice around arts promotion is culturally inclusive? What mechanisms can be put in place to ensure that artists and organisations from the Black arts community are represented in the planning stages for Capital of Culture 2008? How can we improve and expand on local exhibition and performance spaces for culturally diverse artists? How can we ensure that there is equitable representation of culturally diverse, locally produced work on Merseyside? Where can artists rehearse, perform, run workshops and store equipment at low cost? How can artists better apply for funding? How can theatres nurture talent and attract new audiences?
Future progress
The climate of inclusivity in Liverpool is an ongoing process. Says Sue Woodward OBE, Liverpool Culture Company?s Creative Director: ?One of the reasons that Liverpool was chosen was because of the way we engaged communities and consulted with people of all ages and backgrounds to improve the city. Now that we have won, our dialogue will continue because we recognise that the city still has much to do before 2008. I welcome this debate and look forward to hearing what people think.?
The abiding message from the members of the audience who aired their views was that they welcomed the opportunity to have their voices heard. However, talk is only valuable if followed up by action. The assembled group made clear the importance of Liverpool Culture Company recognising the need to have representation from the city?s culturally diverse communities at the highest level. Consultation with culturally diverse communities as to how the 2008 event can be as inclusive as possible is absolutely vital.
For more information about decibel activities in the North West or a copy of the debate transcript, contact Nick Thompson at Arts Council England North West t: 0161 827 9261;
e: nick.thompson@artscouncil.org.uk
Hear the ?World in One City? debate at http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/ realmedia/culture/ roots_debate.ram
The decibel page is prepared by Arts Council England. Find extra information at http://www.decibel-db.org
Denrele Ogunwa is Communications Officer for Arts Council England?s decibel project. t: 020 7973 6421; e: denrele.ogunwa@artscouncil.org.uk