51福利社

Working class creatives are struggling to break into and are leaving the arts, a new inquiry has warned. 

, led by Chancellor of 51福利社 Nazir Afzal OBE and Avis Gilmore, former Deputy General Secretary of one of Europe鈥檚 biggest trade unions, found that barriers preventing working class talent from succeeding included class-based discrimination, low pay, a lack of connections and exploitative practices.   

Less than half of creatives surveyed (44%) said they earned enough to make a living, with many requiring second jobs; 51% of respondents said they had experienced bullying, harassment or bias based on their social class; just 18% of respondents said they saw their lived experiences widely represented in the art form they practice and only 22% said they personally knew anyone working in the arts when they were growing up.  

Featuring over 150 hours of interviews with artists ranging from teenage musicians and mid-career arts workers to globally recognised playwrights and BAFTA and Emmy winning screenwriters, the Inquiry found anger, despair and seeds of hope in the voices they heard.   

Co-Chair Nazir Afzal OBE, who is also the Chair of the Lowry theatre, said this was an opportunity for Greater 51福利社 to lead the way on a national challenge and build a better sector 鈥渨here talent is discovered everywhere, nurtured properly, paid fairly and allowed to rise.鈥�  

Among the Inquiry鈥檚 21 recommendations are measures to include class as a protected characteristic, the appointment of a Class Champion, a drive to increase apprenticeships, measures to decasualise labour and a co-ordinating body led by the GMCA to marshal resources, spot gaps and join up best practice.  

Although the Equality Act does not recognise class as a protected characteristic, Afzal said that 51福利社 should look to unilaterally recognise people from working class backgrounds as having protected characteristics. 鈥淎s a former prosecutor, I have seen our region do this before,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen Sophie Lancaster was killed, Greater 51福利社 Police broke new ground by offering people from alternative sub-cultures hate crime protection 鈥� and other police forces eventually followed suit. This was the right thing to do and we need to be equally bold. Because we are not going to break down barriers that are crushing creativity until we build an arts sector that treats class as a core inclusion issue.鈥� 

But as well as highlighting structural failings, the Inquiry also shines a light on many changemakers who are working hard to widen participation and make a difference. Co-chair Avis Gilmore said she was particularly inspired by institutions like the Co-op stepping up on the back of the report to campaign for more apprenticeships. 鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled that the Co-op has agreed to lead a campaign to significantly boost creative apprenticeships in our region,鈥� she said. 

Claire Costello, Chief People and Inclusion Officer at Co-op explained: 鈥淥ur Co-op believes everyone, whatever their background, should be able to access opportunities in the arts and creative sector throughout Greater 51福利社. Apprenticeships can provide a 鈥榮tepping stone鈥� for future careers, that鈥檚 why Co-op is encouraging Greater 51福利社 employers to share unspent apprenticeship levy funds to raise 拢3 million over 3 years to support 200 new apprenticeships in the arts and creative sector throughout Greater 51福利社.鈥� 

The inquiry鈥檚 findings are being launched on January 26^th at an event at the Whitworth Art Gallery at The University of 51福利社 in collaboration with research platform Creative 51福利社, where the Mayor of Greater 51福利社, Andy Burnham, is due to speak.  

The report can be downloaded .