Some of the vocabulary of ‘race equality’ betrays yesterdays’ thinking

I have been away for far too long. My visitor statistics show that a good number of you have been reading this blog. I think I do owe you a regular service! Many years ago I used to run a course on time management for senior directors and chief executives. They hated me for bringing up the issues but liked the content of the course.  

During the last few weeks I have been talking to many people in the cultural sector. In assessing these conversations, I have also formed some ideas on how I want to raise a few issues on this web log. The issues that have come up are:

 ·         Audience research and development: A client spoke at length about how attendances are falling in his concerts and why they cannot ‘afford to waste money on these esoteric exercises that the Arts Council is so fond of’. Ah well. How much does it cost to build audiences? Is everybody talking about the same things? Are we all asking the same questions, I mean the right questions? 

·         Race Equality: I did a presentation for a major client and shared my thinking with them. I think some of the vocabulary of race equality betrays yesterday’s thinking. Now, don’t get me wrong! I am fully committed to diversity and I do spend a great deal of my time promoting and implementing it in my own work and for my clients. But I think that for those people who are converted and creative and like to approach the issues imaginatively, the vocabulary of diversity should no longer suggest that it is an unpleasant imposition. Respect for equality is critical starting point and must form the basis for organisational development. How we develop audiences by carefully integrating diversity into policy and planning is a challenge. The recent review of diversity in drama and theatre left unpleasant messages. How are we going to tackle them? I am planning a conference.  

·         London 2012.  We are going through exciting times and many people are approaching L2012 with vigour. I think we need to share our thinking and benefit more from synergy. I am going to get the ball rolling in future posts.  

·         Networking and partnerships.  Asian Arts Access, the organisation that I launched in 1989, made its mark by challenging some of the thinking on networking. A large number of arts and cultural organisations have produced excellent track records during the last 15 years by developing network thinking and implementing it with discipline and vigour.  Its time for stocktaking.  

But, by the way, where is my book on time management? I need to read my own notes.