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Organisation Arts Council England

Title Director, Diversity

How long in present post? 5 weeks

e: tony.panayiotou@artscouncil.org.uk

What does your department do?

We address issues around race discrimination, cultural diversity, disability and social inclusion, and help others to do the same.

What does your job involve?

? Providing a context and strategy to lead Arts Council England?s work on diversity, including race, disability, social inclusion and cultural diversity
? Ensuring compliance with legislation for Arts Council England and to persuade our Regularly Funded Organisations of the same
? Working with partners to provide meaningful opportunities and to promote the work of culturally diverse artists; to increase access to venues and art fora; to encourage new audiences from diverse communities; and to create recognition for the role that the arts can play in other sectors such as in health, youth justice and social inclusion

Who did you previously work for?

? Assistant Director Planning and Performance, National Association of Citizen?s Advice Bureaux (NACAB) ? led on strategic planning, strategic management, project management, internal audit, risk management, performance management.
? Principal Policy Analyst ? London Borough of Hackney. Urban regeneration, quality reviews, strategic planning and management
? Refugee Officer ? corporate policy on refugee issues, working with Hackney Ethnic Minority Alliance and the wider black voluntary sector in Hackney

What do you enjoy most about your present post?

The challenge of making an impact on peoples lives and dismantling barriers which prevent all communities from enjoying the full range of arts in England

What do you find most difficult in your present post?

The workload is huge, but we are determined to open up the arts to a more inclusive audience, and to promote the work of disabled, black and culturally diverse artists.

What is your career ambition?

Personal ambition is not very important to me. To be true to myself and to be honest in what I do: to feel that I have made a difference and to provide opportunities for others.

Who has influenced your career to date the most and why?

My father gave me a strong sense of justice and that every individual in society matters. He gave me the courage not to walk away from oppression.

If you could have done any job, what would it be?

A percussionist with Carlos Santana ? the rhythms are intoxicating.

Your three wishes for the future of the arts?

? That the arts become closer to wider society and they promote citizenship
? That they are radical and continually challenge the ?norm?
? That they are seen more as part of everyday life and they contribute to wider social policy.