Reporting back on progress
Culture theme
In the culture theme, we are working to ensure that there are:
Working with Southwark arts organisations to ensure that their boards represent the different ethnic backgrounds of their community and provide opportunities for growth and development for individuals in the sector
15 prospective trustees, recruited from Olmec’s Black on Board programme, have begun a series of masterclasses and peer learning sessions in preparation for joining the boards of Southwark arts organisations.
The current chairs and senior staff representatives of participating arts organisations will begin training sessions in November 2021 to support them in their progress towards more inclusive governance structures.
Offering support to Southwark-based Black, Asian and minority ethnic artists for the research and development stages of creating a new product. Work with local cultural organisations such as theatres and galleries to showcase this work, and increase the amount of artistic content made by Black and culturally diverse artists
We recognise that art is one of the most visible ways that people share ideas and influence the thinking of others. During last summer’s listening exercise, people told us how important it is that art represents different life experiences and that this can only happen by offering paid opportunities to a greater range of artists. We have asked the arts organisations that we currently fund to tell us how many of the artists they employ are from Black, Asian or minority ethnic communities.
A new programme will launch later this year which will offer:
- funding to artists from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. The funding could be used to buy materials, hire rehearsal space or to pay themselves and other artists they collaborate with for their time developing new products
- opportunities for the funded artists to showcase their work to decision-makers from arts organisations around Southwark. This could mean that in the future their work is included in art gallery exhibitions, performed on theatre stages, or featured in festivals
- new creative research, development and showcasing support scheme for Black and culturally diverse artists will be launched later this year providing opportunities to showcase their work in art gallery exhibitions, theatre stages, or be featured in festivals
By the end of March 2022, as a result of this new programme, we will have awarded grants to five Black, Asian or minority ethnic artists.
Page last updated: 31 August 2022
