[artinfo] (fwd) IS CULTURAL DIVERSITY POLICY GOOD FOR THE ARTS?

[Janos Sugar]

From: "Josie Appleton" <Josie.Appleton at spiked-online.com>

I thought you might be interested in the following online debate about cultural diversity in the arts:

 - IS CULTURAL DIVERSITY POLICY GOOD FOR THE ARTS?
   An online debate produced by spiked and decibel
   http://www.spiked-online.com/culturaldiversity

   Promoting cultural diversity has become a policy priority for arts
organisations - yet it is rarely questioned or criticised. Does cultural
diversity policy challenge discrimination and broaden the arts scene, or
risk politicising the arts at the expense of equality and aesthetic judgement?

   This online debate, produced by the online publication spiked
[http://www.spiked-online.com] and the Arts Council England initiative
decibel [http://www.decibel-db.org], kicks off with a head-to-head between
two figures from the arts world:

 - JATINDER VERMA, director of the theatre company TARA ARTS, notes that
'socio-political concerns have determined arts-funding policy for the past
three decades', and argues that 'beating the drum of culturally diverse arts
will only marginalise artists within the confines of identity'.

 - DEIRDRE FIGUEIREDO, director of the crafts development agency CRAFTSPACE
TOURING and a council member of ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND, WEST MIDLANDS, claims
that 'resistance to embracing and celebrating difference are more deeply
engrained in our institutions than we care to imagine'. She argues that
'difference should be articulated in the central values of all arts
organisations and funding bodies'.

   As the debate continues, more responses from arts practitioners, critics,
and the broader public will be published.

   For further details, contact:

   JOSIE APPLETON at spiked

   Tel: +44 (0)20 7269 9231
   Fax: +44 (0)20 7269 9235
   Email: josie.appleton at spiked-online.com

   DENRELE OGUNWA at decibel

   Tel: +44 (0)207 973 6421
   Fax: +44 (0)207 973 6983
   Email: denrele.ogunwa at artscouncil.org.uk