Press release - 13 June 2005

A time for change

The National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) today announced that it would be working in partnership with EQ, the new national equality and diversity agency working in the creative industries, to firmly position diversity, equality and opportunity at the heart of the cultural sector.

Using the formula of its highly acclaimed Arts Manifesto, the NCA will work with EQ to produce a Diversity Manifesto, aimed at those within the sector, from policy-makers and employers to individual practitioners. This manifesto will draw upon the wealth of information gathered by EQ throughout the duration of its Creative Renewal programme.

Victoria Todd, Director of the NCA said, " for too long now have we been speaking about the need to diversify the cultural sector in the UK if it is to continue to thrive. Despite a number of initiatives in recent years there is undoubtedly still a long way to go. The Diversity Manifesto aims to drive this agenda forward to a new level - turning policy into practice - to ensure that in another 10 years we are not having the same debate but instead engaging with a cultural sector which embodies the rich diversity of our society."

David McCall, Chief Executive of EQ said: "'Diversity is no longer a minority issue, it's mainstream. If the Creative Industries do not wake up to the waste of talent and lack of work force diversity it will put the UK's competitive edge in jeopardy. Based on evidence from our £5m Creative Renewal programme the Diversity Manifesto will set out the challenges facing the sector and show how they can be not only overcome but demolished, placing the Industries as leaders on equality and diversity issues.

Notes to editors:

1) The National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) is the UK's only independent lobbying organisation representing all the arts. It provides a voice for the arts world in all its diversity. It seeks to safeguard, promote and develop the arts and win public and political recognition for the importance of the arts as a key element in our national culture.

2) EQ is the national equality and diversity agency working in the creative industries.

3) Creative Renewal is a programme promoted by EQ to make the creative industries more representative of society as a whole. The programme included research projects which aimed to find out what the barriers were to people entering the industry and pilot programmes that increased the opportunities available for people working in the creative industries.

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