Serota calls for arts to deliver on diversity

Published: 16 January 2018
Reporter: Steve Orme

“More to do”: Sir Nicholas Serota Credit: Hugh Glendinning

The arts must do more to help young people progress in their lives and challenge socio-economic barriers, according to the chair of Arts Council England, speaking at Nottingham Playhouse.

During his keynote speech at ACE’s annual diversity event Creative case: leading diverse futures, Sir Nicholas Serota spoke about the impact that diversity could have on the economy and the importance of social mobility.

He said, “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. Our mission to deliver on diversity is doubly vital.”

Sir Nick highlighted the progress made after Arts Council investment in a number of funding programmes aimed at improving diversity. The Elevate programme, for example, committed £5.3 million to develop the work of 40 organisations that were then outside the national portfolio but which had the potential to make a strong contribution to the case for diversity. Thirty of those organisations then bid to be a national portfolio organisation and 20 were successful.

“We’re still at the beginning of this process and are only now seeing the results of decisions that were made several years ago. There is more to do. A lot more,” he added.

“Making the case to government for public investment in art and culture means presenting a credible picture of who we are and what we’re doing. We need you all on board if we’re to make a compelling case for funding at a time when the competition for resources is fierce.”

Looking towards the future, Sir Nick said the next few years would see considerable change. “The sector is moving forward. Those organisations that aren’t prepared to change will be left behind.

“The world has moved rapidly in the past decade and the arts have to be alive to the demands and opportunities of a new political, social, economic and technological era.

“But I’m sure there’ll be an ever-greater need for the arts in all our lives, in more participatory ways that encourage the creativity of each individual and provide a focus for us as communities.”

The Arts Council’s 2016-17 diversity report Equality, Diversity and the Creative Case which has just been published shows that people from a black and minority ethnic background and disabled people are under-represented across the workforce and leadership.

But arts and cultural organisations were making progress with integrating diversity across all areas of the programme.

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