Theatre has a problem, writes Charlotte Jones. It is failing to attract audiences from the breadth of British society, and failing to recruit a diverse range of people to work within it and carry it forward creatively and structurally.
It is managed primarily by the white, the male and the middle-class. This was the view expressed by Anthony Coriette of Theatre Royal Stratford East at the Theatre 2001 Conference last year.
In response to this, and to the Arts Council of England?s recent ?Eclipse? report, around 30 arts organisations are to review new approaches to tackling discrimination within the labour market. ?Creative Renewal?, a £5m project funded by the European Social Fund?s Equal strand and brokered and led by Metier, is a positive action programme aimed at Black and Asian people interested in a career in arts management. It will build on the Independent Theatre Council?s (ITC) Fast-track programme - a London-based project benefiting 10-12 trainees per year, which has been funded by the Association of London Governments (ALG) for the past five years.
The new project, in collaboration with the TMA (Theatrical Management Association) and SOLT (The Society of London Theatres), aims to involve the whole theatre sector in action to address institutionalised racism within the industry. With increased funding from ALG, additional funding from Europe and new funding from four Regional Arts Council Offices (Yorkshire, Northwest, East & West Midlands) we will jointly be offering training and employment opportunities to 25-30 potential new Black and Asian arts managers, starting in September 2002 with a scheme to train 6-8 new black and Asian arts management trainers. These new trainers will then work with existing ITC trainers to deliver Fast-track programmes in London and in the North of England, consisting of a series of ITC arts management courses and a 10- week placement with a performing arts organisation. All participants in the programme will be encouraged to join a CPD forum for Black and Asian arts managers and administrators which will provide them with additional training, networking opportunities, careers guidance and support. Following the course and the placement participants will have the opportunity to apply for paid traineeships supported by experienced and prominent mentor managers within theatre including West-end and repertory theatre managers. The progress and experience of the participants will be tracked in a piece of action-research accompanying the programme.
Maggie Saxon, Manager of West Yorkshire Playhouse, is currently hosting 3 Black and Asian arts management interns. The Creative Renewal scheme aims to build on the success of projects like this and to create more opportunities for black and Asian people to enter the profession and to progress successfully within it.
Charlotte Jones is Director of the Independent Theatre Council. Contact ITC for further information about hosting a placement, training as an arts management trainer or participating in the scheme t: 0207 403 1743; e: admin@itc-arts.org w: http://www.itc-arts.org