Campaigning organisation Parents in Performing Arts, has released the preliminary findings of its Best Practice Research Project in respect of employment and career consequences of having caring responsibilities.
Looking at survey, interview and focus group outcomes, the report reveals a culture in theatres that generally disadvantages carers and goes on to say that those who have a caring responsibility that is not childcare are "invisible to employers". Specifically it says:
- the burden of childcare falls disproportionately on women;
- self-employed people are significantly disadvantaged;
- 81% of self-employed people and 57% of employed people have turned down work due to caring responsibilities;
- 66% reported changing jobs as a consequence of becoming parents.
The purpose of the research is to identify and diminish barriers to carers working in the performing arts culminating in a Best Practice Charter to be embedded in the Family Arts Standards in conjunction with the Family and Childcare Trust as well as other performing arts industry guidelines.
Phase 2 of project included the first Parents In Performing Arts symposium in December which has led to some proposed solutions being trialled over the next 6 months.
Parents in Performing Arts is a Consortium of 18 leading industry organisations led by The Old Vic. The Best Practice Research Project was conducted with 15 theatre organisations and The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, whose Dr Tom Cornford said, "Our interim findings demonstrate the depth and complexity of the challenges faced both by theatre workers with caring responsibilities and their employers.
"We have identified both and aspects of the long-established working culture of theatres that actively disadvantage and exclude parents and those with other caring responsibilities. We have now begun the next phase of the research with some extremely promising discussions with the senior managements of theatre companies. We look forward to supporting them to trial solutions to the challenges we have identified."
The Best Practice Research Project is funded by The Arts Council of England, Creative Scotland, The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Actors’ Children’s Trust, The Family Arts Campaign and UK Theatre.