NSCD Principal and CEO Sharon Watson has joined more than 60 black, Asian and ethnically diverse arts leaders in signing an open letter to the government, urging it to protect diversity progress in the sector, especially in policy-making.
The open letter, whose signatories include Young Vic Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah, Battersea Arts Centre director Tarek Iskander, and Akram Khan Company co-founder Farooq Chaudhry OBE, calls on the government to ensure that "ethnic diversity is protected and celebrated in policy going forwards", and that "the progress we have collectively made does not fall by the wayside."
Addressed to Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the letter celebrates the "explosion of world-leading black, Asian and ethnically diverse artists transforming major UK theatrical organisations", and the group says that "our programming choices have demonstrated that inclusivity is a major contributor to our success."
The signatories "propose that any task force or group gathering to speak about the future of our industry seeks consultation from black, Asian and ethnically diverse leaders", as this "will be essential to the arts returning at full strength and playing its part in our nation's recovery" following the pandemic.
