SOLT and UK Theatre team up with Inc Arts to diversify theatre workforce

"2020 has become the year in which BME people all over the world are saying: ‘With Covid disproportionately striking people of colour, and the racial violence taking place globally, our communities are saying enough is enough.’ It is time for us to be seen.

"The weight of representation currently rests heavily on a few individuals in our sector, most of whom are here for creative purposes, and would like to focus on that goal, and not also have to work as informal diversity officers."

Parker added: "Inc Arts exists to share that collective burden, but also to drive change through evidence-based advocacy, and research to drive inclusive change in hiring, retention, remuneration and care of BME workers."

UK Theatre head Sebastian Cater said that, while diversity and inclusion are embedded in “many of SOLT and UK Theatre’s projects”, the sector has more work to do.

"Our partnership with Inc Arts is the start of a new debate that we can positively support and help move the agenda forward. We want to improve our sector for all parts of society so that we embed diversity in our recovery planning,” he added.

Inc Arts is currently undertaking research into career progression in the arts sector. Its findings will be published in the autumn.