Diversifying Programming to Diversify Audiences- Cultural Alliance Workshops

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Open Space took place on Saturday 4th February at the Key Theatre, Embankment

Closing Words: Art for all feels Risky, Noisy, Diverse, Equal,Participatory, Bulldozer to the wall, Representational, For ME, Relevant, Thriving, Visible, Common Ground, Challenging, Joyful, Delicious, Brave  

Brief: Such as Community celebrations or Community-led projects or Visiting Partners programme.Particularly of interest to creatives and community leaders who want to be part of the priority in the cultural strategy to develop more “Diversity in artists and events; range of types of activity offered; increased collaboration between organisations and individuals.

Reflections: There was a sense of ‘risk’ in the room about what could happen if we diversify our provision as a city. There are a lot of unknowns about how minority groups might interact with one another, could diverse provision be a forum for conflict and tension? How do we appeal to audiences we don’t know? How do we bring new people into arts spaces? And offer provision that is long term? 

The answer to this question from minority members in the room was that only minority leadership in the arts, where minority groups are valued in leadership roles, funded and trusted to know and understand diverse audiences can be the solution. Venues and people with purse strings too often bar access to venues or programme funds because they do not trust minority groups' assessment of their audience needs. Instead we get many one-off, tokenistic projects ‘done to’ our audiences. In this session, some challenging ideas for cultural provision and cultural leadership in the city.


In addition to diversification in provision for minority ethnic groups, the topic of rural inclusion, connecting Peterborough City with its rural population in arts provision came through, with populations around the city feeling detached from overall provision. Across the two main themes, the idea of bringing in outside help and collaborators to develop our provision gained some traction.

Topics 

  1. If people from Rural Areas say they feel disconnected from cultural programme- What can we do to change this? - Sarah Haythornewaite, Peterborough Presents  

  2. Can we improve collaboration with outsiders to diversity provision? - Karima Shah, Diaspora Arts

  3. What is diversity who is it for?- Aisha Zia, Playwright, Founder 62 Gladstone Street 

  4. Can we deproblematise spirituality in art and culture - Karima Shah, Diaspora Arts 

  5. How do we build trust so audiences try new things ? Penny Hansen, The Cresset

  6. What actions / projects would help genuinely diversify cultural leadership ?-  Sarah Tanburn

  7. Diversity in cultural leaders and senior management create diverse audiences and programming- discuss- Aisha Zia, Playwright, Founder 62 Gladstone Street 

  8. How do we create more intercultural spaces for mutual discovery? -Anita Nayyar Curator-Producer & Psychologist, Mr Joshi PCVS


Topic Responses 

1.If people from Rural Areas say they feel disconnected from cultural programme- What can we do to change this? - Sarah Haythornewaite, Peterborough Presents  

Report available soon.

2.Can we improve collaboration with outsiders to diversity provision? - Karima Shah, Diaspora Arts

Interagency Collaboration:

  • Other areas do this work together i.e. Luton Lantern fest, Tooting and locally Diwali program.

  • Need better coverage by radio, TV and media in general like Visit peterborough and the we love Peterborough and Peterborough matters.

  • Looking out for talent.

  • Artists from within/outside the city who are part of multicultural programming to teach their experience for others.

  • Ground swell - Create a wave that carries forward - by commitment - Grassroots - Political sources of income tricky for artists the Local Prevent source was difficult for our communities to get behind as it has a stigma.

  • Need to allow influences from other careers - work experience for inter-disciplinary perspectives share skills.

  • Fundraising - currently very difficult to produce the correct application.

  • Create ring fenced opportunity, help with making a background case for small organisations.

  • Nene park festival - multi-cultural and inclusive.

3.What is diversity who is it for?- Aisha Zia, Playwright, Founder 62 Gladstone Street 

Report available soon.

4.Can we deproblematise spirituality in art and culture - By Karima Shah, Diaspora Arts & Anita Nayyar Curator-Producer, Psychologist
When ethnic minorities propose arts provision that are spiritual or faith inspired, they are often blocked for fear that it is proselytising. Ethnic minority communities are more likely than the population at large to practise a religion according to Census data and artistic engagement is often closely tied with spiritual engagement; in South Asian culture poetry, music, dance and visual arts are commonly explorations of existence or connection with the divine. This does not mean they are proselytising or dangerous. It was noted that we all celebrate Christmas with cultural provision in the city and that it is a double standard not to host other cultural expressions of spiritual practice simply because we do not understand them. Indeed, sharing in city spaces can improve everyone’s understanding. 

 There were some concrete ideas in the session to develop a type of provision that was felt would bring in more diverse audiences, and help the city celebrate one another: 

Current climate:

  • Art is perceived currently as placed within the religious context not understanding how the cultural legacies work.

  • Nothing is in between the cracks

  • Festivals (for example Diwali) Arts culture, food and music is part of our celebratory practice yet we are never funded enough to fund an appropriate sustainable program.

  • Currently cultural communities are trying to diversify.

  • Create more cultural development strands and invite a wide range of participants

  • No formal cultural Alliance programming

Future Ideal/plan

  • To be heard by the Local Authority.

  • To look at spirituality in a non-denominational form.

  • Spirituality and troubleshooting Art & Culture representation and understand the difficulties faced.

  • Filling the gaps by creating appropriate places.

  • Combating ignorance around the need of the cultural communities.

  • Address how we celebrate diversity - top down.

  • More education around what cultural and spiritual organisations are doing. Not considered by the mainstream, Islamophobia etc.

  • Were not having the right conversations around gaps in programs. We can celebrate Christmas but not Diwali, Vaisaki nor Eid.

  • Beyond the concept of wrongdoing and right doing there is a field, I will meet you there. Rumi

  • Meaning we need to meet in neutral open minded spaces. Open areas that do diversity well should be utilised. Holywell Ponds, Greenbackyard, Central park and the Triangle

  • More mindful of the difficulties of intersectionality and the impact multiple indices of depravation have on BAME and mainstream communities
    Need sustainability and longevity.

  • We need to create allyship that is appropriate.

5.How do we build trust so audiences try new things ? Penny Hansen, The Cresset

The conversation diverged into two strands – as both the content and the venue can be barriers for audiences. For some, the something new might not just be a different art form or genre, but could be engaging with any form of public art/culture in the first place. There are two questions – ‘Do I want to see this thing?’ And ‘Do I want to go to that place?’ – if the answer to either of the questions is no, then they won’t attend!

TRUST IN PROGRAMMING

  • - Diversity in recruitment & leadership – representation opens doors

  • - Public policies on programming, safeguarding, EDI

  • - Advocacy from existing audiences and other stakeholders as well as within the culture

  • community

  • - Authenticity in marketing – video / photo / reviews / content warning

  • - Cost is a barrier for audiences – financial risk!

  • - Be committed to outreach work – do the work and do it properly, not just a tick-box

  • exercise!

  • - Longevity – keep the conversation going

  • - Quality – reward the risk!

TRUST IN VENUE

  • - Use the right space – venue impacts experience – vibe!

  • - A warm welcome – personalised

  • - Advance information – what to expect, particularly around accessibility

  • - Safe Spaces – buddies / advocates in staff group – point of contact, personal approach

  • - Listening – ask for feedback, dialogue, understanding, appropriate action

6. What actions / projects would help genuinely diversify cultural leadership ?-  Sarah Tanburn


Responses/ possiblities


(1)_ Coaching and mentoring at all levels - encouraging people to think more broadly, have.a friend in the leadership space, developing ‘Critical Friend’ relationships, promoting action learning sets, enabling space to fail.

(2) recognising, finding and talking to the leaders already out there  - acknowledging leadership may look different. Understanding the barriers by asking people what they are and how they want to get past them (and if).

(3) Networking - everyone taking on responsibility for building open networks; making the right connections and influencing people; use the Cultural (and other) Forums better.Also thinking cross-sector (including the business sector) recognising divergences of time, timeframes, flexibility etc.

(4) Comms - how to make comms genuinely accessible including good messages. (Links to networks)

(5) decent pay: and honesty about what money is available, strings attached etc.

(6) In developing projects:

  • 2 way focus of diversity

  • Promoting genuinely diverse project leadership

  • Review the spaces in which leaders sit

  • Promote conversations - eg the Human Library. Be honest about the challenges eg the economics

  • Encouraging leadership by example - eg not working every hour there is

  • Focused and specific funding.

7.Diversity in cultural leaders and senior management create diverse audiences and programming- discuss- Aisha Zia, Playwright, Founder 62 Gladstone Street 

Report Available Soon

8.How do we create more intercultural spaces for mutual discovery? -Anita Nayyar Curator-Producer & Psychologist, Mr Joshi PCVS

Report Available Soon

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Iqra Saeed

I’m a journalist who lives just outside of Peterborough. I’m 23 years old. I was born in East London and lived there until I was 16.  I do miss London but sometimes it’s too busy. Peterborough is much more calm and quiet. I think that’s a good thing, but some may disagree with me! I’m also Pakistani and this gives me an insight into cultural differences/similarities. Especially as I was fostered by a white family and still live with them. Another perspective I can also unlock is from the point of a disabled person. Being a wheelchair user brings issues such as inclusion to my attention.  All these different perspectives are almost like a toolkit when it comes to writing.