The British Theatre Guide: Racism in English Theatre


Sign up for our Newsletter	Articles
Links Articles News Reviews Amateur Theatre Contact Other Resources Bookstore Forum Search the Site	Racism in English Theatre Dateline: 19th May, 2002 The Arts Council Annual Survey for 1998/9 shows that of 2,009 permanently employed staff in English regional theatres in 1998/99 1,929 were white 44 were black (of Caribbean, African and other origin) 13 were Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi and 26 were of Asian or other origin. In the same year the figures show that of 463 Board members, 440 were white and only 16 black. This, the Arts Council believes, suggests that there is institutional racism in English theatre, using the definition of institutional racism laid down by the Macpherson Report into the Metropolitan Police investigation into the muder of Stephen Lawrence: the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people. As a result of this perception, ACE set up the working party which led to the Eclipse Report, which lists 21 recommendations to tackle the problem. Tis working party consisted of: Mukesh Barot, Cultural Diversity Officer, East Midlands Arts Stuart Brown, freelance producer and arts manager Tony Graves, lecturer in Arts Management, de Montfort University, Leicester Isobel Hawson, Senior Drama Officer, Arts Council of England By the end of 2004, the theatre sector will be in receipt of an additional £25 million per year from the Arts Council. 10% of these funds were specifically allocated for culturally diverse projects. How this extra money was to be distributed was announced last year as part of the Arts Council’s Theatre Review and the development of the National Policy for Theatre. A copy of the National Policy can be found on the Arts Council’s website at www.artscouncil.org.uk/nextstage/. In the coming months there will be regional seminars and ACE's Diversity Project (working title) will be launched in September 2002. This initiative is working to raise the profile and status of diverse arts practice within British society and increase its access into the mainstream. By focusing on an ethnic diversity resulting from post-war immigration with an increased focus on arts and artists form African, Asian and Caribbean backgrounds, the Diversity Project seeks to inspire change across the artistic and funding landscape. Activities will include marketplaces for visual and performing arts, national debates and development of further opportunities through training, skills, development, mentoring, board development, marketing and research programmes, and advocacy. Next Page>> The full recommendations of the Eclipse Report Articles Indices: 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
	©Peter Lathan 2001