This week saw the publication of Arts Council England's fourth annual diversity report, the final assessment of the 2015-18 National Portfolio.
Its conclusions bear out what is largely apparent to those involved, in that disabled people remain significantly under-represented with only 5% of National Portfolio Organisation staff identifying as disabled, despite making up 20% of the working age population.
There has been only a minor change in black and minority ethnic representation amongst staff and leadership of NPOs which was found to be 12%, despite making up 16% of the working age population.
Although the figures are better on gender representation and the number of NPOs receiving the highest rating for diversity in programming, the report finds that overall the sector is still “treading water” on diversity.
Nicholas Serota, chair, Arts Council England, said, “the data from our annual diversity report shows where we are on the journey to become better representative of society. There has been progress in some areas; in others we see little momentum. We must be more focussed in our approach to the issues and from next year we will be reporting in greater detail, looking at diversity in the context of the funding organisations receive as well as their artistic disciplines.”
The report, titled Equality, Diversity and the Creative Case, is available for download.