Equality Action Plan guidance
We want the work we support to reflect the diversity of our nation. We want this to be true of the art, the audiences, and the workforce and leadership.
Equality Action Plan guidance
About the guide
We see diversity as an opportunity. We want to see an inclusive approach remove barriers to entry, discover new talent, raise the bar for artistic excellence, inspire innovation and spark new collaborations; we want to see our stories and experiences as a nation shared across our stages, our galleries and our public spaces.
We believe that equality and diversity should be embedded in all aspects of art and culture, which is why we’ve made the Creative Case for Diversity a central part of our funding agreements.
For our National Portfolio Organisations, applying diversity will have creative, practical and legal implications. This equality action guide, produced in collaboration with Stephen Lawrence Consulting, will help organisations develop plans to inform their response to the Creative Case for Diversity and to address opportunities to diversify their audiences, workforce and leadership.
There is already much good practice within the sector that we can learn from. We hope this new resource will support and inspire arts organisations everywhere to create the conditions to achieve equality, access and opportunity for all.
Introductory section
We have commissioned this guide to support National Portfolio Organisations develop their equality objectives and action plans.
The Introductory section has been developed to help organisations understand the legal requirements of the Equality Act as well as providing an overview of what is required from National Portfolio Organisations as part of their funding agreements in relation to equality and diversity.
This section also signposts readers to further useful resources including a guide to the social model of disability and a glossary of commonly referred to equality and diversity terms.
In this section:
- Introduction from Darren Henley
- Definitions of equality and diversity
- What the law says
- The Arts Council’s requirements in relation to equality and diversity.
Putting equality and diversity into action
The Putting Equality and Diversity into Action section offers readers a practical guide to developing their equality objectives and action plans. It supports organisations to look at how they can respond to the Creative Case for Diversity through their arts and cultural programmes as well as how they can work towards diversifying their audiences and workforce.
In this section:
- What is an equality action plan?
- Framework for writing your equality action plan
- Responding to the Creative Case for Diversity
- Reaching diverse audiences
- Building boards that lead on equality and diversity
- Recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce
Supporting materials
In the resources section there is a range of additional material that you may find useful in developing your equality objectives and plans including case studies, templates and links to further reading.
The resources section will continue to be updated in the future. If you would like to contribute content to this section please do get in touch with us, referencing the Equality Action Plan when you do.
In this section:
Supporting Materials
- About Stephen Lawrence Consulting
- The social model of disability
- Requirements of the Creative Case for Diversity at a glance
- Volunteers
Case studies
- Read about how arts organisations have implemented diversity
Additonal Resources
- Example materials and templates
- Useful links and resources
- Glossary
Resources and Support
General overview
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
The statutory body with the responsibility to protect, enforce and promote equality across the seven ‘protected’ grounds – age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief, sexual orientation and gender reassignment. Telephone helpline (0845 604 6610) provides information and guidance on discrimination and human rights issues. All helpline staff have been specially trained to provide the service.
The Office for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics provides data on population, ethnic group, country of birth, health and housing and accommodation by local authority area, based on the national census in 2011.
Business in the community has a wide range of resources including case studies, fact sheets and toolkits focusing on different aspects of diversity, including age, gender and race. These cover issues from role modelling to inclusive succession planning and beyond.
Reaching diverse audiences
Free national audience data and development tool, enabling cultural organisations to understand, compare and apply audience insight.
Building and sustaining a diverse workforce
This government webpage sets out types of discrimination (protected characteristics), how you can be discriminated against, discrimination at work and what you can do.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
The CIPD is the professional body for those involved in the management and development of people. Contractors may find this website useful when considering staff training and qualifications for HR staff.
Building supporting Boards
Governance in the arts and museums: a practical guide
Written by the Clore Leadership Programme.
Appointments to Boards and Equality Law,
Advice by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Disability resources
The DaDafest Manifesto sets out key facts in relation to deaf and disabled people, and makes the case that their rights are not an optional extra – they are human rights, and as such should be on every significant agenda.
Shape provides opportunities and support for disabled artists and cultural organisations to build a more inclusive and representative culture. The resources page of its website includes a series of resources to help art and cultural organisations become more diverse and inclusive, including marketing and creating accessible events.
Disability discrimination and the law
Find out more about the law about disability discrimination on the disability discrimination page of the equality and Human Rights Commission website.
Disability Confident employer scheme and guidance
Guidance and resources about employing disabled people and how the Disability Confident employer scheme can help.
Equality and Human Rights Commission website.
More information and guidance about reasonable adjustments.
Providing captions and live subtitling services to theatres and other arts venues to make their activities accessible to people who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing.
Marketing
A membership organisation dedicated to helping organisations connect arts and culture and the public.
Pricing family events: Guidance for arts organisations
A practical guide, by Baker Richards for the Family Arts Campaign, offering a framework for making pricing decisions for arts activities or events.
20 simple ways to make your marketing more accessible.
Access and participation
A resource park for the performing arts
Guides to improving accessibility.
Practical guides to help improve your confidence in working with disabled people, and making your organisation more diverse and inclusive.
Host of links to resources.
Additional resources and support
Guide | Representative Reliable Surveys