A group of black artists and leaders from arts organisations across the West Midlands have issued a pledge for action to get “meaningful and long-term change with and for black creatives in the region”.
More Than a Moment: Action with and for Black Creatives is designed to “dismantle the systems that keep black artists and creatives from achieving their potential in the arts and cultural industries”.
The idea to create the pledge was born earlier in 2020. Elizabeth Lawal, a young black woman working in the cultural industry in the West Midlands and a board member of support body Culture Central, questioned what the arts and cultural sector was doing to make organisations reflective of their communities.
A working group got together to create a pledge for “radical and permanent change” for black creatives in the West Midlands.
Lawal said, “we know that this is only the starting point, but what a great way to begin. This model can now be used to create solutions for everyone and anyone.”
Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre, Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Opera Company, Birmingham REP and Stan’s Café are among the organisations that have indicated they will sign the pledge.
Further information is available at the Culture Central web site.