Published: 30 Sep 2016
Survey to explore under-representation across the arts in Scotland to inform future priorities
Creative Scotland is calling on people working within Scotland’s arts sector to take part in a wide-ranging survey on diversity in the arts.
The research aims to build a clearer picture about who is working in the arts today across a range of roles, and what the perceived barriers are to entering, progressing and developing in the arts professionally.
The findings will provide valuable insights to help shape future strategic priorities.
The arts should reach across and contribute to society by reflecting, representing and celebrating diversity and difference.- Leonie Bell, Director of Arts and Engagement
The survey - which opens today until Monday 31 October 2016 - will gather information on gender, age, ethnicity, disability, and sexual orientation - all defined as ‘protected characteristics’ in The Equality Act 2010. Insights into socio-economic background, education, occupation, employment status, income and career progression will also be collated.
Leonie Bell, Director, Arts and Engagement at Creative Scotland said:
"Arts, culture and creativity sit at the heart of who we are as a nation. They are a central part of a healthy, innovative, and dynamic society. The arts should reach across and contribute to society by reflecting, representing and celebrating diversity and difference.
“We are acutely aware that barriers to access and progression exist, as set out in our recently published Arts Strategy. We need a more robust evidence base to better understand and address these barriers and to guide our future priorities. We are keen to gather insights and experiences from as many people working across the arts as possible. The results will allow us to better understand the barriers to access and progression within the arts and highlight where more needs to be done to create a place of equal opportunity for all.”
The survey is one of the first outputs from our Arts Strategy, published in August, which called for greater diversity across all areas of the arts, from membership of boards to students entering further education arts courses.
It is anticipated that findings from the survey will be published in spring 2017.
On 10 August 2016 Creative Scotland published an Arts Strategy. The Arts Strategy sets out how Creative Scotland’s work supports artists and the arts to flourish, by developing a shared understanding of their reach, relevance and contribution to social, cultural and economic life in Scotland.
The Arts Strategy is designed to stimulate debate and challenge and we will use it to help us become more progressive in how we, as a nation support artists and the arts. Artists, cultural producers and arts organisations are a central part of a healthy, innovative, and dynamic society.
The strategy places value on the contribution artists make to our society and our communities. However, for the arts to be genuinely reflective of contemporary Scotland those who work in the arts must come from a variety of backgrounds so that a diverse range of stories and perspectives are told, heard and can contribute to society.
The Arts Strategy calls for greater diversity across all areas of the arts, from membership of boards to students entering further education arts courses.
Creative Scotland is undertaking a review of Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) across the arts, screen and creative industries. The survey on diversity in the arts sits alongside the Screen Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Review which has gathered practitioners’ views and perceived barriers to participation and progression in the screen industries. Both pieces of research will inform the ongoing EDI Review and will provide us with valuable insights to help shape future strategic priorities.
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery.
Sophie Bambrough, Media Relations & PR Officer, Creative Scotland
Email: sophie.bambrough@creativescotland.com
Tel: +44 (0) 131 523 0016
Mobile: +44 (0) 7747 606 146
Switchboard: +44 (0) 330 333 2000
