Press release - 01 November 2005

A time for change: launch of Diversity Manifesto

17 November 2005 will herald the launch of the Diversity Manifesto at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. The Manifesto, written by the National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) and produced in partnership with EQ, aims to place diversity, equality and opportunity at the heart of the arts sector. It will be championed by notable figures such as Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Sir Nicholas Montagu and Jenny Sealey.

The Diversity Manifesto draws upon the information gathered by EQ as part of its Creative Renewal programme and is supported by NCA members - arts organisations and practising artists from across the country. Its recommendations are written for policy-makers and all those working in the arts. It aims to bring about meaningful and lasting change throughout the sector by making it accessible to all people of talent.

Victoria Todd, Director of the NCA said, "For years people have been talking about diversity in the arts and some excellent initiatives have been put into place. Fundamentally, however, not enough has changed. The Diversity Manifesto sets out to make people really think about the implications of all their decisions and actions. It is not just about implementing brand new measures - it is about doing what we are doing now, but doing it differently so that everybody has a chance to be involved."

David McCall, Chief Executive of EQ said: "Diversity is a mainstream issue. 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. The Diversity Manifesto is an important step towards achieving full equality within the arts sector."

Notes to editors:

1. For further information please contact the NCA, Pegasus House, 37-43 Sackville Street, London W1S 3EH. Telephone: 020 7333 0375. Fax: 020 7333 0660. Website: www.artscampaign.org.uk

2. 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.

3. EQ is the national equality and diversity agency working in the creative industries. Visit www.thinkeq.org.uk

4. 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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