WIREDGOV

Today Arts Council England is holding an event at Nottingham Playhouse discussing diversity in arts and culture - Creative Case: leading diverse futures. We are also publishing our latest report on diversity in the Arts Council and our funded organisations.

During his keynote speech at the event, our Chair Sir Nicholas Serota will talk about the impact that diversity could have on the economy and the importance of social mobility. Reflecting on two reports published by CEBR and the Social Mobility Commission last year, he’ll say that we need to do more to help young people progress in their lives and challenge socio-economic barriers.

He says: "Our young, diverse population is a national asset - a multitude of perspectives, ideas, talent and creativity. But we have a problem - we are as a society depriving this young population of opportunity. I want the arts to be an inclusive world; a building open to all, not an exclusive club. This report shows that where the Arts Council has direct influence, we can change things."

The 2016-17 diversity report Equality, Diversity and the Creative Case gives us the opportunity to assess our progress and to target areas that are progressing more slowly. This year it shows that in comparison with the wider working age population, people from a Black and minority ethnic background and disabled people are under-represented across the arts and culture workforce and leadership. Women are also under-represented in certain leadership roles.

However, arts and cultural organisations are making progress with integrating diversity across all areas of their programme. Almost half of our National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) were given the highest Creative Case for Diversity rating this year, compared to a third of organisations given this rating last year.

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