The Arts Council of England

The arts are enriched by the involvement of as wide a range as possible of artists and audiences. However, participation tends to be lower among people from certain ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities and those from some social groupings. In recognition of this, diversity and social inclusion is one of the priorities for Arts Council work.

We are planning a special year on diversity. The year aims to shift the perception of the arts in England to reflect contemporary society. Through a series of events and other activities, it will challenge perceptions, provoke change and focus on investment in African, Chinese and south Asian arts.

During the past year, the Arts Council has taken some major steps to address diversity. The three-year funding agreements for arts organisations, announced in March 2001, included significant increases for a number of Black and Asian groups. For example, the dance group Adzido will receive a 28% increase in 2002/03, while Badejo Arts receives 47%. In music, the African and Caribbean Music Circuit and the Asian Music Circuit will both receive a 40% increase. There were also increases for disability-led companies such as the disability arts music group Heart'n'Soul, whose grant will rise by 30%.

Organisations which will receive regular funding for the first time in 2003/04 include Survivors' Poetry, which promotes poetry by people who are survivors of mental distress, and Vocaleyes, the national leader in audio-described work for visually impaired audiences.

The Arts Capital Programme

One of the priorities for the Arts Capital Programme (ACP) was develop buildings and other assets for Black, Asian and Chinese arts organisations. A minimum target of £20 million was set aside in the first spending round to encourage this and there was a drive to raise the programme's profile among culturally diverse groups across the country. The application and assessment procedures were reviewed and included assessors with broad experience of working in the culturally diverse arts sector.

In June 2001, the Arts Council announced that £29 million of the £90 million for ACP had been allocated to 22 Black, Asian and Chinese arts organisations. These included Kala Sangham, the Academy of South Asian Performing Arts, with £1.5 million to relocate to a West Yorkshire base. The London-based Yaa Asantewaa Arts & Community Project – which focuses on developing Black arts and carnival – was allocated £2.75 million towards a multi-purpose arts venue.

Diversity runs across many aspects of the Arts Council's work and the organisations we support. Examples include:

• Attitude is Everything – a campaign for disabled people to have better access to live music, launched at London club Dingwall's in September 2000
• Fellowship and apprentice schemes addressing the lack of diversity in the arts industry
• Working with the not-for-profit organisation Arts and Business to develop the diversity of the people in their pool of potential board members
• The National Foundation for Youth Music - set up to promote and develop music opportunities for those aged up to 19, especially those with limited access to music-making opportunities. It receives £30 million of lottery money across three years
• 'Knocking on Doors' – research into disability arts touring companies and the challenges they face. The report will form the basis of an action plan for the arts funding system
• Space for Sport and Arts – this lottery-funded programme, to which the Arts Council is contributing £5 million, will develop new spaces for arts and sport activity in schools in some of the most deprived areas of the country
• The New Audiences programme focuses on new audiences and groups traditionally under-represented in arts activities and events. A website for the programme will be launched early 2002, to help develop good practice in this area
• A commitment to revisit the Arts Council’s Cultural Diversity Action Plan, as a framework for consistent and ongoing work into the future
• Diversity awareness training for all Arts Council staff and a commitment to develop a diverse workforce

This is just a sample of activity. While the Arts Council is proud of our achievements to date, we also recognise that considerably more needs to be done to promote diversity. This will remain one of our priorities.