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We have now published all eight films from the ‘Heads Up’ series that have been produced as part of the Creative Case for Diversity, an artist-led set of explorations and sharing of best practise that seek to release diversity from a negative or deficit thinking. They feature a number of arts professionals and arts organisations who discuss their involvement with the Creative Case and what it means to them.

The Case invites us all to look at diversity and equality within the arts and take a creative approach to addressing barriers to creativity, participation, learning and involvement around race, disability and gender equality, instead of simply viewing it as a legal requirement.

The videos reflect some of the interesting ways in which arts organisations have embraced this, including:

• Ian Ritchie, Festival Director at the City of London Festival, who talks about the new frontier of composing music. The video shows Clarence Adoo, a talented musician who was disabled following an accident, who can now create music using the movement of his head thanks to a new instrument specially created for him
• Nazli Tabatabai-Khatambakhsh, Artistic Director of Zendeh, talks about her work as a dual nationality writer, performer and artistic director, and how she explores ideas around the Creative Case through this work
• Sandy Nairne, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, discusses the gallery’s recent acquisition of the Portrait of Chevalier D’Eon by Thomas Stewart, the gallery’s first portrait of a man dressed as a woman
• Alistair Spalding, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Sadler’s Wells, who talks about working on a hip hop festival with Jonzi D with the aim of broadening the appeal of the venue to wider audiences
• Sarah Holmes, Chief Executive, New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, talks about restarting the theatre as a place that everyone can access without permission or concession
• Skinder Hundal, Chief Executive, New Art Exchange, talks about returning to take the helm of the New Art Exchange having been a volunteer at the same organisation when he was younger
• Mark Robinson, Director, Thinking Practice, talks about the notion of adaptive resilience, and how diversity at the core of our operations and thinking makes us more resistant in times of change
• Hassan Mahamdallie, Senior Officer, Diversity, Arts Council England, talks about how historically, the most powerful and striking art movements have come directly from the experience of oppression, diversity and inequality

Encouraging debate

It is hoped that these videos will stimulate discussion and debate, and encourage more arts organisations and artists to think about what the Creative Case means for them.

For more information about the Creative Case and to watch the films and discover more about those involved in making them, please visit the Creative Case for Diversity website.