The Stage

Morris warns arts over minority recruitment

Published Tuesday 13 April 2004 at 09:40 by Sally Bramley

Culture minister Estelle Morris has warned the arts industry that unless it addresses the “abysmal” statistics for recruiting black and Asian professionals, it will face missing out on a huge amount of talent that is vital for the sector.

Speaking at the launch of the Independent Theatre Council’s Fast Track 2004 programme, Morris said the scheme, which aims to redress the shortfall of black and Asian arts managers, was a “pretty brilliant initiative”.

She added: “We need people with really good quality skills because without that this sector is nothing. At the moment, we are not recruiting enough people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds. The statistics are abysmal and that means, quite simply, that the arts is missing out on a whole lot of talent.”

ITC’s scheme gives black and Asian trainees a chance to spend 15 weeks getting hands-on arts management experience with a company as well as a three-day residential course and nine one-day training courses. Organisations taking part include English Touring Opera, Tallow and Clear Channel Entertainment. Of last year’s trainees more than half have gone on to full-time arts management jobs.

Morris said: “If each year we can get 15 more people with good training coming through, we can be confident in five years of changing everything.”