A practical guide to equality action planning

Skin, ACE Dance and MusicPhoto: Brian Slater

November 2015Ruth KapadiaRelationship Manager, Diversity

Agenda

1. Introductions2. The legal framework – our equality duties3. The principals of a good equality action plan4. Case studies5. Developing your own plan

The legal frameworkThe Night Carnival, featuring Kinetika, Bloco dancers at the Mayor’s Thames FestivalPhoto: Elicio Carrio, via Mayor’s Thames Festival

The legal framework

The Public Sector Equality Duty

Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation

Advance equality of opportunity between different groups

Foster good relations between different groups

Excerpt from MPM funding agreement

We require that you provide additional information regarding audience reach, with reference to the following protected characteristics: gender, age, ethnicity, disability/longstanding illness. Sampling audiences to get this insight is acceptable. You must provide an equal opportunities policy and equality action plan for the 2015-2018 funding period which is acceptable to us prior to your signing this funding agreement.  We require that your equality action plan for the 2015-2018 funding period includes SMART objectives, as agreed in negotiation with your RM. We require that your board regularly monitors and reports on your programme,audience development and equality action plans to Arts Council England, providing us with copies of your Board papers (or equivalent) and financial reports at least quarterly.

Sources of information

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/equalities/equality-act/

Protected characteristics

Discussion

How do the legalresponsibilities

affect museums on a day-to-day basis?

Monitoring engagement

Why is it useful to know about your visitors?

What data do you hold? What can you collect?

Ask the right questions; sensitively. Look for examples of best practice.

Make sure you know what you are going to do with the answers.

Monitoring and reporting on delivery

Internal communication – policy issues raised by staffcommunication of policiestraining

External communication - Board minutesannual reports

Reasonable adjustments vs. special treatment

How much are we prepared to change to ensure everyone has equal access?

Museum Accreditation Scheme

EligibilityMake sure they meet all relevant legal, ethical, safety, equality, environmental and planning requirements

1. Organisational health‘Accredited museums and responsible, responsive and resilient’1.2 ‘… exists to benefit the public…’1.4 ‘… must plan effectively for long-term success and make sure it

can adapt in a changing environment…’

3. Users and their experiences‘Accredited museums are welcoming and accessible’3.1.3 ‘devise plans to broaden its range of users’3.2.3 ‘… communicate effectively through a range of accessible marketing’

The principals of a good equality action plan

Case studies

• Museum/gallery background

• How did you identify which groups to target to diversify your audience / visitors?

• What you have done to attract new visitors from these target groups?

• How do you monitor audiences so you know if you have increased visitors from the target groups?

• How you plan to sustain these audiences? 

Developing your own equality action plan

What do you know about your existing audiencesWhat potential for development existsWhat sources of data do you haveWhat opportunities do you have in the short/medium/long term

Sources of dataThe Night Carnival, featuring Kinetika, Bloco dancers at the Mayor’s Thames FestivalPhoto: Elicio Carrio, via Mayor’s Thames Festival

Monkey: Journey to the West performed at the Royal Opera HousePhoto: Robert Piwko

Ruth Kapadiaruth.kapadia@artscouncil.org.uk07872 416627