First ever conference in Scotland to promote diversity in the creative arts
First ever conference in Scotland to promote diversity in the creative arts
Published: 26/04/2016
Do you study or work in the creative arts? If so, the Diversity in the Creative Arts Conference is for you.
The conference is a joint event between the NUS Scotland Black Students’ Campaign and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and is the first student-organised conference of its kind in Scotland.
“Our ambition is to create a world of arts and culture for all to enjoy,” said Sanjay Lago, NUS Scotland Black Student Officer. “Recent studies demonstrate that there is real inequality in arts and culture based on people’s gender, ethnicity and disability. There are multiple barriers to accessing arts education and jobs for people from these communities. The Diversity in the Creative Arts Conference is about addressing this issue and identifying solutions for the future.”
More than 100 students, academics and practitioners are expected to attend the conference to discuss the problems faced by those minority groups entering the creative arts. Speakers include the creative team behind the critically acclaimed If I had a Girl, plus writer Mariem Omari and Director Umar Ahmed, Call the Midwife and Harry Potter stage play actress, Cherrelle Skeete.
“The lack of diversity in the creative arts is a widely acknowledged problem, and one which must be addressed urgently. Too much talent which could enrich our culture is being wasted because of the barriers to potential practitioners based on their race, gender, sexuality and disability,” added Mr Lago, who is also a 1st year student on the RCS’s Contemporary Performance Practice degree programme.
“This conference is an opportunity for us to come together to discuss the barriers and inequalities in the arts. We must fix this for the good of the arts and for society as a whole.”
And Mike Williamson, Development Consultant at NUS Scotland, added: “It’s wonderful to see students come together with academics and practitioners to address barriers to participation in the creative arts. NUS Scotland does lots of work on equality and diversity, and lots of work with students, but the creative arts is anexciting new area of work for us, and we hope you can join us at the conference on the 1st May.We look forward to hearing some of the ways thatstudents propose to address barriers to participation for those with protected characteristics.”
The Diversity in the Creative Arts Conference is a joint event between the NUS Scotland Black Students’ Campaign and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and funded through the RCS’s Equality & Diversity Budget Bids scheme.
To register to attend the conference, please click here.
