A UK Parliament group set up to promote diversity in the creative sector has issued its plans for a year-long research project. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Creative Diversity will ask creatives to submit their ideas of ‘what works’.
“The sector currently faces an unprecedented crisis,” said the APPG in a statement. “Supporting the creative industries in their efforts to be open and diverse will be crucial as businesses and organisations rebuild and recover. Knowing what the best strategies are – ‘what works’- is therefore more important than ever.”
The statement continued: “The project will detail the variety of ways that the industry can engage with a wide and diverse range of talent and construct sustainable, inclusive approaches to opportunities and access. Recommendations will be formulated for both the sector and government and the project is expected to culminate in summer 2021.”
Baroness Deborah Bull and Chi Onwurah MP will co-chair the APPG, with vice-chairs and officers including baroness Floella Benjamin, baroness Jane Bonham-Carter, Rupa Huq MP and Giles Watling MP.
Commented Deborah Bull: “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.
“This goes on to influence the work that gets produced, whose voices it represents and, ultimately, who makes up the audiences. This matters, because representation matters: if the workforce is skewed, then so is the message.”
Research partner organisations are King’s College London, University of Edinburgh and the Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre. Financial support comes from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and NBCUniversal. The Creative Industries Federation will provide communications and digital support.
Submissions under the theme ‘what works’ can be sent to diversityappg@gmail.com.