Racism accusations trigger pledges of change

Self-reflection and a plethora of announcements have followed a barrage of criticism by BAME arts workers about racism and the lack of diversity in the arts and cultural sector.

Some, stung by the comments of arts workers who have named and shamed those organisations with a record of poor diversity practices, have started to make commitments to change. These include theatres, museums, education establishments, umbrella organisations and public bodies.

Organisations in the immediate firing line have responded with statements of intent, though some of these have been met with scepticism.

Response

The Almeida Theatre, slammed on Twitter for its failings on diversity, acknowledged “We know we have not programmed enough writers, directors or creators of colour. We know our workforce – at every level – is not representative enough of the broader community which it serves. We’ve been taking steps to change, but we need to do it faster.” They are appointing a paid advisory group and setting up forums “for people to share their experiences and ideas, and to help us to find a new way”. The forums should, they say “challenge us, hold us to account, and put all areas of the organisation under scrutiny”.

But the pace of change is questioned by one person, who said: “It'd be great to see action WHILE the forum is happening – the forum isn't the action itself” and suggested “why not take the % of white creatives (basically everyone involved) in the last few years, and commit to replicating this same percentage with black/BAME creatives next season?”

The Yard theatre, which was told on Twitter to “dismantle the hideous racist culture that is at the heart of your theatre. Whether spoken or unspoken”, has replied to its critics saying “We are listening, we are learning, and we are acting”. The theatre will soon be explaining “what we will do in order to address systemic problems within The Yard and in the wider arts sector.”

But not everyone is convinced of its sincerity. One person tweeted: “This is ridiculous @YardTheatre The reports I have had from people about your conduct is like a small novel. Now don’t act shocked or put out another statement. Clear out this illness before you put up support. Unless your team has suddenly changed fine. If not this post is mute.”

Taking action

Drama school LAMDA was called out by its students for being slow to respond to the call for action on diversity. In an email to all staff and students, Director Sarah Frankcom has accepted “personal responsibility” for failings past and present, and published a first draft plan to accelerate the organisation’s response to racism.

Others announcing specific measures include the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, which have announced a partnership with diversity champions Inc Arts to help diversify theatre workforces and support their members’ engagement with BME staff. Inc Arts will offer a collective voice that represents the creative, contractual and economic rights of BME freelancers, organisations and employees, and provide a support network for the BME arts workforce. Acknowledging that the sectors has “much work to do”, Sebastian Cater, Head of UK Theatre, described the new partnership as “the start of a new debate that we can positively support and help move the agenda forward. We want to improve our sector for all parts of society so that we embed diversity in our recovery planning”.

Those working in the public sector are also acknowledging that previous measures to improve diversity have been unsuccessful.

Following the toppling of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced a Commission to “ensure the capital’s landmarks suitably reflect London’s achievements and diversity”. He has previously pledged his support for a number of new memorials in the capital, including for Stephen Lawrence, the Windrush generation, a National Slavery Museum or Memorial, and a National Sikh War Memorial.

The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm will review the existing landmarks and make a series of recommendations aimed at establishing best practice and standards covering murals, street art, street names, statues and other memorials.

Dismal record

Despite their financial clout, the UK’s arts funding bodies have a dismal record of attempts to affect change in the diversity of the sector.

The sector in Wales now stands accused of “systemic racism”, yet the Arts Council of Wales’ measures to improve diversity were reported in the very first issue of AP back in 2001.

That same year London Arts, prior to being absorbed into Arts Council England, launched a Cultural Diversity Action Plan which challenged arts institutions in the capital to develop new audiences and artistic programmes that reflect the capital’s cultural diversity. https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/06/article/news-la-champions-cultural-diversity

In Scotland, 2002 was designated Year of Cultural Diversity, and saw the then Scottish Arts Council pledge cash for arts projects that would extend diversity.

In a blog, Arts Council England CEO Darren Henley has acknowledged the ineffectiveness of previous measures: “It is clear that despite our best intentions, we have so far failed to create the systemic, structural changes needed for our sector to be truly diverse, inclusive and welcoming to people from all backgrounds”. He said ACE will, in response to concerns about an organisation or project they fund, “challenge those in receipt of public investment to show how they are complying with equality legislation, and their funding agreement with us.” He continued: “Where they are found to be in breach we will not hesitate to take appropriate action.”

Whether this will involve the loss of funding is yet to be seen. Figures published earlier this year reveal that half of its National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) were rated ‘strong’ on diversity, despite ACE acknowledging that “the organisations we invest in are still not representative of the UK”. Just 1% of NPOs were judged as having ‘not met’ the Creative Case for Diversity.