Don’t let progress on diversity in the theatre be lost, say directors
MORE THAN 60 key figures from theatre companies and arts institutions yesterday called on the Government to help ensure that progress made on ethnic diversity in the industry was not hampered by the coronavirus crisis.
In a letter to the Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, artistic directors including Kwame KweiArmah of the Young Vic, Sharon Watson of Leeds-based Phoenix Dance Theatre and Amanda Huxtable and Shawab Iqbal of Sheffield’s Eclipse Theatre Company, also said that any taskforce assembled to discuss the future of the arts must include consultation with black, Asian and ethnic minority leaders.
The letter said: “We are a great British success story and will be essential to the arts returning at full strength and playing its part in our nation’s recovery.
“The last few years have seen an explosion of world-leading black, Asian and ethnically diverse artists transforming major UK theatrical organisations, from touring, to off-West End, to pioneering regional theatres and cultural institutions.”
Kully Thiarai, creative director of the Leeds 2023 cultural festival, who was a signatory to the letter, said: “The arts ecology is rich with talent but is fragile and as we look ahead we must ensure that the gains made over the years, particularly around diversity and representation, are not lost.”
The letter was sent as peers voiced fears over the “acute impact” the coronavirus crisis was having on the performing arts.
The House of Lords Communications Select Committee has written to Mr Dowden to ask what more the Government will do to ease the economic impact of prolonged closures.
The peers asked the Government to consider extending its income-support scheme for the self employed to include those with recent second jobs and expressed concern that the new Cultural Renewal Taskforce for the leisure sector may have “limited impact” without proper resources.