Project details
Project lead | Dr Lucy Frears |
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Who decides the direction of our cultural life – and who is excluded? That’s the question underpinning this research into diversity on the boards of Cornwall’s creative hubs.
The death of George Floyd and the eruption of soul-searching provoked by #metoo led to much artistic and cultural activity. But to what extent has this renewed focus on diversity and inclusion been reflected among the decision-makers and budget-holders? Through analysis, a survey and interviews, this project examines this in the Cornish and national context.
Header image: Light installation at The Exchange, Penzance, commissioned by the gallery from artist Peter Freeman, March 2022
Photo: Peter Freeman
Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange are the named case study in this research.
Project media
Change Culture in the Culture Sector Pilot Podcast 2024
Sometimes it’s easier to find the time to listen to a podcast rather than read a report. If you would like to listen to some of the ‘first steps’ that boards can take before recruitment to start on their path of diversifying their boards please listen to this 19 minute pilot podcast hosted by Lucie Akerman with interviews from experts in the field: Antonio C. Cuyler – Professor and author of ‘Access, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Cultural Organizations: Insights from the Careers of Executive Opera Managers of Colour in the US’ and Jonathan Mayes - Head of Strategic Partnerships and Impact at Clore Leadership as well as CEOs and Chairs from arts organisations in Cornwall: Miranda Bird - Chair at Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange, Fiona Wootton – Chief Executive at Creative Kernow Group and Paul Inman, Chair of the Board of Trustees at The Acorn Theatre, Penzance and those with lived experience of being a trustee: Evelyn ‘Eggy’ Nicoll.
This podcast was made with the help of interns Evelyn ‘Eggy’ Nicoll and Emma Vowles, thank you to Muhla from Too Much Collective for letting us use your music, and thank you for the technical support from Jordan McClelland and Olga Reed. Thank you to Kerry Taylor and the internships team at Falmouth University and to all those interviewed in person and down the line from the production team: Dr Lucy Frears, Andy Chatfield and Lucie Akerman.
This podcast pilot is funded by the Research Knowledge Exchange Staff Fund at Falmouth University, who also supported the original research in 2022, in partnership with Research England’s Strategic Priorities Fund and Cornwall Council.
Original research team
Dr Lucy Frears FHEA
Associate Lecturer
Dr Lucy Frears' practice-based research on Locative Media includes immersive sound, memories, phenom...
Andy Chatfield
Senior Lecturer in Journalism
Andy studied History at Cambridge University before training as a journalist. He is a former deputy ...
Dr Abigail Wincott
Associate Professor of Audio Journalism
Abigail Wincott has worked as an audio journalist and producer for over 20 years, including 15 years...