Arts Council of Wales appoints diversity lead

Arts Council of Wales (ACW) has appointed Andrew Ogun as Agent for Change – a new role leading the organisation’s equality and diversity agenda.  

His appointment fulfils a commitment made by ACW to ensure access to its activities, services and funding is fairer and more inclusive. It comes almost a year after controversy over ACW’s response to the Welsh Culture and Race Taskforce, which was set up to create a fairer and more equal arts sector in the wake of Black Lives Matter and inequalities exacerbated by the coronavirus.

Ogun will use his knowledge and experience to identify barriers to inclusion and promote inclusion and diversity within the sector.

The 23-year-old musician, writer and activist has spent the last year focusing on Black Lives Matter and organised a Black Lives Matter march in his hometown of Newport, which more than 2,000 attended.

He also played a key role in the Welsh Government Race Equality Action Plan, set up last month.

Phil George, ACW Chair, said: “The Arts Council of Wales has made a clear commitment to change. No one can be unaware of the disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 virus on diverse communities and disabled people.  As we emerge from Covid restrictions it’s essential that those communities that have previously felt marginalised and ignored are able to take their proper place in our cultural recovery.”