Equality
The Arts Council has obligations under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act to ensure that equality of opportunity and good relations are central to policy making, policy implications and review, as well as service delivery.
The Arts Council is committed to fulfilling its statutory equality and good relations duties.
These responsibilities place a duty on the Arts Council to address inequalities and demonstrate measurable positive impact on the lives of people experiencing inequalities.
As part of its commitment to creating a more diverse and equal society, the Arts Council produces an Annual Report to the Equality Commission and a Disability Action Plan which sets out our commitment to promoting positive attitudes towards people with disabilities and encourages participation in all aspects of the arts.
Details of work carried out by the Arts Council to fulfil its statutory equality and good relations duties, including the delivery of its Equality Scheme and Disability Actions Plans can be found here.
In addition to these duties, the Arts Council screens policies for any adverse impacts on the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations.
Our Equality Scheme is a statement of our commitment to fulfil the statutory obligations in compliance with Section 75 and Schedule 9 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
The Northern Ireland Act 1998 places a duty on us to promote equality of opportunities and good relations.
An equality scheme outlines the public authority's arrangements for:
- assessing its compliance with the duties under section 75
- assessing and consulting on the likely impact of policies on the promotion of equality of opportunity
- monitoring any adverse impact of policies on the promotion of equality of opportunity
- publishing the results of such assessments
- training staff
- ensuring and assessing public access to information and services provided by the public authority.
We will commit necessary resources (in terms of people, time and money) to make sure that the statutory duties are complied with and that the Equality Scheme can be implemented effectively, and on time.
The Arts Council’s new Equality Scheme was approved by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. The Arts Council has also produced an Action Plan for the timeframe of the Equality Scheme
Equality Scheme and Action Plan 2019-2024
Disability Action Plan 2019-2024
Public Authority Statutory Equality and Good Relations Duties Annual Progress Report
This report has been prepared using a template circulated by the Equality Commission. It presents our progress in fulfilling our statutory equality and good relations duties, and implementing Equality Scheme commitments and Disability Action Plans. This report reflects progress made between April 2021 and March 2022
Progress on the Equality Action Plan and Disability Action Plan, 2021-22
Equality Screening
Screening is the process of monitoring policies for any adverse impacts on the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations.
This helps to identify any policies that are likely to have major equality issues. If they do, they are subject to a full equality impact assessment (EQIA).
The most recent policies subject to screening are:
Equality Impact Assessments
If screening identifies that a policy has major potential to impact on equality of opportunity and good relations, it is subjected to a more detailed analysis, an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA).
This means if a policy shows a possible 'adverse impact' on any group, the Arts Council will consider how this might be reduced. The most recent policies subjected to a full EQIA and details of associated outcome reports are listed below.
If you require these documents in an alternative format, such as large print, Braille, easy read or digital, and/or another language, please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Graeme Stevenson or Ashleigh Lilley
Strategic Development Department
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Linen Hill House
23 Linenhall Street
Lisburn BT28 1FJ
Email: strategy@artscouncil-ni.org