Page 35 - SEN115 - November/December 2021

Creative arts
What does a truly inclusive
arts sector look like?
As the government sets about launching their new National Disability Strategy, Michelle Temperley discusses the concept of inclusivity in the arts and how it can be achieved.
Here at National Youth Theatre (NYT) we have been on a journey over the last few years to explore how we as a charity and how the wider arts industry respond to this question.
In all our work we have always sought to celebrate the ways that we are different and create an environment where everyone can thrive and do their best work. This is a given for most arts organisations; A culture of acceptance, openness, collaboration and experimentation is vital for them to succeed. So why has it been such a struggle for our sector to develop and attract young disabled and neurodiverse talent? Why do many people feel the arts are still inaccessible and far from inclusive?
Often when thinking about addressing inequality the arts industry starts at the top. We recognise how under-represented groups lack visibility. We highlight and try to tackle the lack of public role models and mainstream recognition and appetite for their output. These are laudable responses but as we all instinctively know, change has to be underpinned by something
“A struggle for our sector to develop and attract young disabled and neurodiverse talent?”
more, something deeper; an infrastructure that will support and sustain these desired cultural shifts.
The Arts Council’s current ten year strategy, ‘Let’s Create’, recognises this too. It cites as two of its three key outcomes the need to support the development of ‘Creative people - opportunities for everyone to develop and express themselves
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