Understanding Diversity in the Arts: Survey findings published

Creative Scotland ,
15 August 2017, Scotland

Findings from a wide-ranging survey looking at diversity in the arts are published.

As part of the continuing work following the publication of Creative Scotland’s Arts Strategy (2016) - which called for greater diversity across all areas of the arts - the survey was undertaken to help build a clearer picture about who is working in the arts today and what the perceived barriers are to, entering, progressing and developing in the arts professionally. 

During Autumn 2016, over 1,500 individuals working in the arts in Scotland responded to survey questions on gender, age, ethnicity, disability, and sexual orientation - all defined as ‘protected characteristics’ in The Equality Act 2010. Insights into socio-economic background, education, occupation, employment status, income and career progression were also collated.

Economic limitations and gender were cited as key perceived barriers to participation and progression:

  • Economic limitations were the most commonly cited barrier overall (76%) with the costs of professional training and a culture of unpaid internships being key issues.
  • Gender was cited as a barrier for 44% of women compared to 12% of men. A key issue for women was balancing parental responsibilities with a career in the arts – women with children were three times more likely to cite parental responsibilities as a barrier than their male counterparts.
  • Half of Minority Ethnic respondents saw ethnicity as a barrier to career progression.

Download the full survey findings below.

Phillip Deverell, Director of Strategy, Creative Scotland said: “Arts, culture and creativity are a central part of a healthy, innovative, and dynamic society. They should reach across and contribute to society by reflecting, representing and celebrating diversity and difference.

“As laid out in our Arts Strategy, we are keenly aware that barriers to access and progression exist. The survey results are enabling us to better understand the barriers to access and progression within the arts; are helping us to build a more robust evidence base and highlighting where more needs to be done to create a place of equal opportunity for all.”

“We’ll be working closely with the arts sectors, using the findings from this survey, to address the barriers that obstruct people developing and progressing their careers. Together we can address the lack of diversity, support career progression and challenge poor employment practices.”

http://www.creativescotland.com/what-we-do/latest-news/archive/2017/08/understanding-diversity-in-the-arts-survey-findings-published