Class Discussions on COVID-19 and Traditional Professionals
Professor Dave O'Brien, Professor of Cultural and Creative Industries at The University of Manchester, sheds light on the underlying issues that make recovery in the cultural sector difficult.
The cultural sector, encompassing areas such as the arts, film and TV, and museums, is intertwined with the more general social and economic crisis facing Britain and the rest of the world. Significant voices reflect on the challenges that lie ahead, with a sense that there can be no return to 'business as usual'.
Recent trends suggest little change in the representation of working-class individuals in cultural occupations. The analysis of data from 2014 showed the absence of those from working-class origins in cultural occupations, a problem that has existed at least since the early 1980s.
People of color, women of color, and those living with disabilities face extensive challenges in their creative careers. The figures do not give a sense of the longstanding issues of inequality in the sector. The need for economic capital, the right social networks, and the 'cultural capital' that underpins success in cultural labor markets are important factors.
Access to cultural infrastructure is heavily unequal, with demands for huge levels of investment and financial risks placed onto the individual. As many parts of the infrastructure, particularly cultural organisations, struggle for survival, questions of equality can be made central, rather than an afterthought.
The unequal distribution of resources is a danger in returning to 'business as usual'. The Creative Industries Sector Plan has made several key sector-wide announcements, but the discussion of co-location with other Industrial Strategy Priority Sectors is ongoing.
The Global Creative Economy Council, chaired by Marta Foresti, is engaging in conversations between the Global North and South to reorder the creative economy. The council aims to address the Equity Gap in Britain's Creative Industries, a topic discussed by Professor Nick Wilson.
The PEC's researchers have looked at trends in the cultural and creative labour force since 2014, focusing on social class. However, the organization that conducted research in 2021 on the long-term problems of social class equality in the field of cultural professions is not explicitly identified in the provided search results. None of the documents mention a 2021 report addressing this specific topic.
The latest DCMS Economic Estimates on Employment during 2019 suggests a 24.0% growth in jobs in the cultural sector. Journalism occupations are included in the DCMS's list of Creative Occupations.
Amidst these challenges, Arts Council England has been clear about its commitment to making sure its 10-year strategy's focus on equality and diversity is continued even at this point of crisis for the sector.
As we navigate the recovery process, it is crucial to address the underlying inequalities in the cultural sector to ensure a more equitable and inclusive future.
