Creative Case NORTH supports open dialogue, exploration and exchange of practice around the Creative Case for Diversity. The following case studies are examples of North Area organisations’ Creative Case Journeys so far.
We hope they will provide inspiration and insight into different approaches and contributions to the Creative Case for Diversity; and demonstrate that there is no ‘one-size fits all’ approach, with every journey being unique to each organisation’s circumstances.
The following themes are explored in these case studies:
- Articulation – how organisations communicate their ambitions, goals, successes and learning in relation to the Creative Case, both internally and externally.
- Goal 1 – how organisations approach artistic programming and curation through the lens of the Creative Case for Diversity; how can what’s on our stages, in our galleries and museums, challenge thinking around diversity?
- Organisational Change – how the Creative Case for Diversity has either inspired, or prompted, organisational change, as organisations identify and work towards their Creative Case goals;
- Leadership – examples of how Band 2 & 3 organisations have demonstrated sector-leadership in relation to the Creative Case for Diversity.
- Board Engagement – examples of how organisations are meaningfully engaging their Board members with the Creative Case for Diversity.
Artlink Hull
#Articulation #OrganisationalChange
Artlink Hull supports the creation and exploration of art with, in, and about communities. In particular, they work with individuals and communities experiencing disadvantage to increase the diversity of voices in the arts.
In this case study, Kenn Taylor, Creative Director of Artlink Hull, shares their approach to planning and articulating their response to the Creative Case for Diversity, and how it has contributed to their business planning and organisational development.
Prepared for Creative Case NORTH April 2018. Download pdf.
BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
#Articulation #Leadership
Installation view, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. Photo: John McKenzie © 2017 BALTIC
BALTIC is the UK’s largest dedicated contemporary art institution, with 2,600 square metres of art space including 4 galleries, a cinema, and a large flexible space for performance and live events. They commission and produce exhibitions and events that are conceptually rigorous and inspired by new perspectives and practices.
In this case study Dr Caroline Murphy, Associate Director (Research & Partnerships) shares how they have approached the Creative Case as a “mission critical element” of all they do and set out to challenge the practices, processes, attitudes and behaviours that reinforce exclusion.
Prepared for Creative Case NORTH March 2018. Download pdf.
Company of Others
#Goal1 #BoardEngagement
Company of Others is a dance theatre company based in the North East of England, founded in 2016. They create work which highlights and shares stories of the human experience, drawn from the diverse communities they work with. They co-create work from concept to performance, truly collaborating with communities and handing the reigns over to them whilst holding the frame for their creativity do its work.
In this case study, Artistic Director, Nadia Iftkhar shares how they approached Board development and how they engage their Board members with the Creative Case for Diversity.
Prepared for Creative Case NORTH June 2019. Download pdf.
Contact Theatre
#Goal1 #BoardEngagement
Based in their unique creative building in Manchester, Contact Theatre works locally, nationally, and internationally to provide life-changing opportunities for the next generation of artists, creative leaders and audiences.
In this case study Artistic Director and Chief Executive Matt Fenton shares how they have placed young people at the decision-making heart of everything, working alongside staff in deciding the artistic programme, making staff appointments and act as full Board members, and the impact this has on their artistic programme.
Prepared for Creative Case NORTH June 2019. Download pdf.
Sheffield Theatres
#Goal1 #OrganisationalChange
L-R Shaun Mason, Jack Tarlton, Arthur Hughes, Nathan Amzi Photo: Mark Douet
Sheffield Theatres is the largest producing theatre complex outside London, located in the fourth largest city in the UK. They have three very distinct auditoria and their 750 performances per year include a wide range of genres including drama, musicals, opera, ballet, comedy and children’s shows. They produce c12 shows each year alongside a varied programme of community engagement.
In this case study Communications & Fundraising Director, Claire Murray, and Resident Associate Director, Javaad Alipoor, share how their commitment to gender balanced casting has expanded to include ethnicity and disability, and influenced their programming decisions.
Prepared for Creative Case NORTH March 2018. Download pdf.
Theatre in the Mill
#Goal1 #Articulation
Theatre in the Mill is a Bradford based arts venue situated on the University of Bradford campus. They are committed to developing, supporting and presenting socially responsible work that reflects the environment within which they are situated. They believe in artists and audiences, in the need to create spaces that promote dialogue, and art that represents the narrative of the people the city and the region.
In this case study, Artistic Director Richard Warburton shares how Theatre in the Mill reviewed their producing model, including considering their response to the Creative Case for Diversity and how they articulate it internally and externally.
Prepared for Creative Case NORTH June 2019. Download pdf.
TIN Arts
#Goal1 #Articulation
TIN Arts is a nationally leading inclusive dance organisation based in the North East. From their Durham base they work hard to identify and remove barriers to dance and the performing arts by increasing the levels of participation by people of all ages and abilities, developing new skills, being creative and celebrating talents and achievements.
In this case study Director, Martin Wilson and Dance Artist, Becki Parker share how their work on the Creative Case reaches across their organisation, programmes and outputs, directly influencing who they engage and how, the work generated and how they talk about, present or share the artistic outcomes.
Prepared for Creative Case NORTH June 2019. Download pdf.
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
#Goal1 #Articulation
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums (TWAM) is a major regional museum, art gallery and archives service, managing a collection of nine museums and galleries across Tyneside and the Archives for Tyne and Wear, in the North East of England.
In 2015-16 TWAM were recipients of a Creative Case NORTH bursery, used to reframe their collections with regards to disability. In this case study Sarah Cotton, Keeper of Contemporary Collecting shares how they reviewed what they collect, the ways they collect, and how they present their collections.
Prepared for Creative Case NORTH 2016. Download pdf.