Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy and Action Plan
May, 2024
The Arts Council’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI, formerly separate Equality Scheme and Disability Action Plan format) Policy is developed on the basis that everyone in Northern Ireland has an equal right to engage with and participate in the arts, regardless of age, marital status, having dependants, disability, sex and gender identity, race, religion, political opinion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.
The EDI plan is for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) but we are ensuring it covers the following:
- ACNI staff, leaders and Board
- Arts organisations (inc resource orgs who support the sector)
- Artists, freelancers
- Audiences and participants
The EDI Policy recognises that while ACNI have supported and promoted developmental initiatives over many years, our work in advancing change still has a long way to go. We are all too aware that many inequities still exist in the arts and that there is a substantial number of people who continue to experience barriers to engaging with and participating in the arts. We believe that through promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, we can benefit from high quality art that is relevant and more reflective of our society today.
The EDI Policy commits to placing equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of the Arts Council’s operational and strategic plans. The development of the EDI Action Plan 2024–2034 marks the Arts Council’s continued commitment to eradicating barriers that prevent full access and participation in the arts in Northern Ireland.
We recognise that there remain a number of unknown barriers for which additional research, analysis and action is required. With this in mind, the 2024–2034 Action Plan outlines action points to help embed EDI principles and objectives across the Arts Council and arts sector.
Equality, diversity and inclusion has been central to the development of our new ten-year strategic plan with a vision of a society where all people can experience a thriving arts sector that is recognised as essential to creativity, wellbeing and social prosperity. We have also ensured ‘inclusion’ is a core value in everything that we do and note a key principle is the UN Declaration of Human Rights where everyone should have the right to creativity. Outcomes two and five specifically refer to sector inclusivity and audience/participation in arts.
This plan has been developed following sector wide strategy consultation, a review of our previous Equality Action Plans and Disability Action plans and insights from our Rural and Minority ethnic/global majority deliberative forums. The feedback gathered through the 12-week public consultation process has also been considered throughout the development and refinement of this EDI policy and action plan.