Cross-party research into creative diversity calls for evidence

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Creative Diversity is calling for evidence for a year-long research project into how to boost diversity and inclusion in the creative sector.

Established in April last year, the cross-party group is co-chaired by former Royal Ballet principal dancer and peer Deborah Bull and Labour MP Chi Onwurah.

The APPG for Creative Diversity has announced it is partnering with King’s College London, University of Edinburgh and the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre, which is led by NESTA, for the research into “what works” when it comes to increasing diversity in the arts.

Philanthropic organisation the Paul Hamlyn Foundation is supporting the research project with funding, while the Creative Industries Federation is providing communications and digital support.

Evidence is being gathered through an online submission process, with organisations asked to email evidence of “what works to embed inclusive approaches to talent in creative businesses” to diversityappg@gmail.com.

The research project is also holding roundtables and will be conducting a global literature review to gather evidence.

Expected to culminate in summer 2021, the project will formulate recommendations for the sector and government to improve diversity in the creative industries.

Bull said: “The creative industries have become a UK success story, contributing significantly to the UK economy and to our reputation around the world.

“Arts and culture are playing a crucial role in bringing communities together in these challenging times and will play a part in our nation’s recovery.

“Creative careers will continue to have much to offer – not least because of their resistance to automation – and yet access to those careers remains uneven.”

Bull added: “This matters, because representation matters: if the workforce is skewed, then so is the message.

“In light of this current situation, which presents such a threat to our creative industries, we must double down on our efforts to identify ways to address this challenge.”

Onwurah added: “The creative industries are a critical part of our culture and economy. But they don’t represent our country. This work will help us identify what works best to change that.”