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Today we’re publishing the first four from the ‘Heads Up’ series of eight films which have been produced as part of the Creative Case for Diversity, an artist-led set of explorations and sharing of best practise that seek to release diversity from a negative or deficit thinking. They feature a number of arts professionals and arts organisations who discuss their involvement with the Creative Case and what it means to them.

The Case invites us all to look at diversity and equality within the arts and take a creative approach to addressing barriers to creativity, participation, learning and involvement around race, disability and gender equality, instead of simply viewing it as a legal requirement.

The videos uploaded today reflect some of the interesting ways in which arts organisations have embraced this, including:

• Ian Ritchie, Festival Director at the City of London Festival, who talks about the new frontier of composing music. The video shows Clarence Adoo, a talented musician who was disabled following an accident, who can now create music using the movement of his head thanks to a new instrument specially created for him
• Nazli Tabatabai-Khatambakhsh, Artistic Director of Zendeh, talks about her work as a dual nationality writer, performer and artistic director, and how she explores ideas around the Creative Case through this work
• Sandy Nairne, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, discusses the gallery’s recent acquisition of the Portrait of Chevalier D’Eon by Thomas Stewart, the gallery’s first portrait of a man dressed as a woman
• Alistair Spalding, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Sadler’s Wells, who talks about working on a hip hop festival with Jonzi D with the aim of broadening the appeal of the venue to wider audiences

Encouraging debate

It is hoped that these videos will stimulate discussion and debate, and encourage more arts organisations and artists to think about what the Creative Case means for them.

We are hosting a live chat with our Director, Diversity, Tony Panayiotou, Tuesday 4 June from 12pm to 1pm. You can join the chat and ask any questions or raise any points you have about diversity in the arts.

For more information about the Creative Case and to watch the films and discover more about those involved in making them, please visit the Creative Case for Diversity website.