Equality and Diversity Within the Arts and Cultural Sector in England, 2013-16
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Equality and diversity within the arts and cultural Sector in England, 2013-16: Evidence Review September 2016 Equality & Diversity: Evidence Review Contents 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 2 Context ........................................................................................................................................ 3 3 Review Results ............................................................................................................................ 7 4 Disability ...................................................................................................................................... 9 5 Race ........................................................................................................................................... 17 6 Sex/gender ................................................................................................................................ 26 7 Age ............................................................................................................................................ 35 8 Sexual orientation ..................................................................................................................... 41 9 Gender re-assignment .............................................................................................................. 47 10 Religion and/or belief ............................................................................................................... 48 11 Pregnancy and maternity .......................................................................................................... 51 12 Marriage or civil partnership status .......................................................................................... 54 13 Socio-economic groups and educational attainment ............................................................... 55 14 Gaps in the evidence base ........................................................................................................ 69 15 Conclusions and recommendations .......................................................................................... 71 Appendix 1: Methodology .................................................................................................................... 73 Appendix 2: Rapid Evidence Assessment .............................................................................................. 75 Appendix 3: Conceptual framework ..................................................................................................... 76 Appendix 4: List of references .............................................................................................................. 82 This study was commissioned by Arts Council England and delivered by Andy Parkinson and Jamie Buttrick from Consilium Research & Consultancy. Project manager: Andy Parkinson Consilium Research & Consultancy Tel: 07713 357389 Email: [email protected] Web: www.consiliumresearch.co.uk Twitter: @ConsiliumAndy Equality & Diversity: Evidence Review 1 1 Introduction 1.1 Consilium Research and Consultancy (Consilium) was commissioned in June 2016 by Arts Council England to update the previous review of evidence about equality and diversity within the arts and cultural sector in England up to 2013 (Consilium 2014). This report provides a summary of the evidence collated and reviewed since 2013 and highlights key themes and trends within the evidence base to guide and inform Arts Council England's future work around diversity. 1.2 The approach to completing this evidence review has followed established good practice around undertaking a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) including the formulation of review questions and the development of a conceptual framework. The key research questions that the review seeks to answer were discussed at the inception meeting held in June 2016 and subsequently agreed by Arts Council England. (1) Equality and diversity issues related to the opportunity to ‘participate’ in producing art or delivering cultural provision via museums or libraries • What are the ‘participation’ issues generally in society? Which protected groups are affected, to what extent and what effect, for which reasons and what are the potential solutions? • What ‘participation’ issues are observable in the arts and cultural sector itself? Which protected groups are affected, to what extent and what effect, for which reasons and what are the potential solutions? • What ‘participation’ issues are observable in specific art forms? Which protected groups are affected, to what extent and what effect, for which reasons and what are the potential solutions? • What are the current gaps in the evidence base which make it difficult to assess whether or not an equality or diversity ‘participation’ issue exists for a particular protected group? Which protected groups are affected, to what extent and what effect, for which reasons and what are the potential solutions? (2) Equality and diversity issues related to the opportunity to ‘attend, view or visit’ arts production, museum collections and or access library services • Information to be structured similarly to that set out in (1) above (3) Equality and diversity issues related to the workforce of arts organisations, museums and libraries • Information to be structured similarly to that set out in (1) above (4) Equality and diversity issues related to accessing public or private funding for arts production, arts development, museums or libraries • Information to be structured similarly to that set out in (1) above Equality & Diversity: Evidence Review 2 1.4 This review acknowledges the absence of a consensus around the use of a number of concepts and terms within the arts and cultural sector, for example ‘high culture’, ‘low culture’ or definitions of ‘quality’. This report does not seek to add to a wider debate on the validity of these terms but simply acknowledges their use within the evidence base, in particular where this is pertinent to understanding the issues facing people from across the protected groups. 1.5 The methodology used to complete this review is provided in Appendix 1 with an overview of the REA process outlined in Appendix 2. The conceptual framework developed in partnership with Arts Council England can be found in Appendix 3 and the full list of references collated during the review provided in Appendix 4. Equality & Diversity: Evidence Review 3 2 Context Arts Council England 2.1 Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people's lives. This is encompassed in its refreshed strategic framework, Great Art and Culture for Everyone1, which describes how it will achieve its vision for England. The strategy describes Arts Council England’s recognition and longstanding commitment towards equality and diversity and the Creative Case for diversity. It also outlines the challenges facing the arts and cultural sector in supporting actions to maximise opportunities for people of all socio- economic backgrounds, education levels and geographical locations to engage and be involved in the arts. 2.2 The Arts Council’s strategic framework has five goals which guide activity and investment: 1. Excellence is thriving and celebrated in the arts, museums and libraries 2. Everyone has the opportunity to experience and to be inspired by the arts, museums and libraries 3. The arts, museums and libraries are resilient and environmentally sustainable 4. The leadership and workforce in the arts, museums and libraries are diverse and appropriately skilled 5. Every child and young person has the opportunity to experience the richness of the arts, museums and libraries 2.3 It is acknowledged in the strategic framework that there remain significant disparities in the level of arts and cultural opportunities with engagement strongly linked to levels of education, socio-economic characteristics and where people live. The Equality Act 2.4 The Equality Act 2010 provides the basis from which Arts Council England can inform its work to promote equality of opportunity and reduce the barriers to engagement (i.e. for audiences, artists and workforce). The public sector equality duty is a key component of the Equality Act 2010, bringing a range of duties into law whereby those subject to the equality duty must, in the exercise of their functions, have due regard to the need to: • Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act. • Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. • Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/great-art-and-culture-everyone1 Equality & Diversity: Evidence Review 4 2.5 The Act explains that having due regard for advancing equality involves: • Removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by people due to their protected characteristics. • Taking steps to meet the needs of people from protected groups where these are different from the needs of other people. • Encouraging people from protected groups to participate in public life or in other activities where their participation is disproportionately low. 2.6 The Equality Act 2010 provides the minimum requirements in promoting equality of opportunity and the impetus for Arts Council England in