What’s the problem?
The creative and cultural industries are still dominated by those from privileged backgrounds - people with insider connections who can afford to work for free. Young people from working-class or marginalised backgrounds are too often shut out, lacking access to the networks, opportunities, and support that open doors.
- A young person from a privileged background is 4x more likely to work in culture and creativity than a young person from a working-class background.
- Only 16% of the creative and cultural workforce comes from a working-class background.
- Young people from an ethnic minority background or with a disability are even less likely to work in creativity and culture.
This has to change.
Research from:
- Panic! Social Class, Taste and Inequalities in the Creative Industries, by Dr Orian Brook, Dr David O’Brien, and Dr Mark Taylor, 2018.
- Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre: Getting in and getting on: Class, participation and job quality in the UK’s Creative Industries
- Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre: Arts, Culture and Heritage: Audiences and Workforce
What are we doing about it?
We support young people from underrepresented backgrounds break into the creative and cultural industries by:
- offering a year-long mentoring programme matching underrepresented 16-18-year-olds with creative professionals to help them make informed decisions and take confident steps toward their creative ambitions as they transition beyond compulsory education.
- providing peer and network connections through our Young Community programme of in-person and online events.
- equipping young people with useful resources, exclusive opportunities, and travel bursaries to power their creative journey.
Read our Theory of Change here.
Arts Emergency Manifesto, 2013
- There are things that are bigger and better than money. We have things that those in power will never understand.
- We take it as a given that a civilised society values education, lifelong learning and creativity as a public good.
- We are a social justice not social mobility organisation. Arts Emergency is no substitute for justice withheld.
- Fight the conditioning that tells you to demonise young people.
- Be fearless. You are just as entitled as anyone to have the life you want.
- There is no recession of the imagination.
- The future is another place. Allow yourself to believe a better life is possible. Say it loud, defiantly, to everyone.
- Be generous. Now be more generous. Share your privilege.
- Do something. Start small, start local, keep going.
- Optimism is a weapon and if all else fails be silly.
The Youth Collective Manifesto, 2023
- The ‘art world’ is our world.
- Things can change, they have to.
- Artwork is heart-work.
- No one should go on their journey alone.
- Everyone has a part to play when the revolution comes.
- We are far more powerful when we come together. Share resources. Pay it forward.
- Collaboration not competition.
- The arts should not be closed.
- Creativity is not the end result. Be led by the process. Get stuck in.
- Art is joy.