Creative Equity Toolkit

Arts and media reckon with racism and inequality amid Black Lives Matter movement

A round-up of global disruptions, resignations, apologies and calls for change in the arts and media in mid-2020 in response to COVID-19, Black Lives Matter and systemic racism.

'Inevitably, the ripples from these global protests are disrupting industries far from the epicentres of these urgent crises. Culture is shifting and we are witnessing reckonings across the screen industries, academia, publishing, journalism, music, food, fashion and visual art. '

Australia's creative industry is shockingly white. But don't be discouraged

An astute analysis on the whiteness of arts leadership in Australia that provides recommendations on how to 'shift the balance'.

"Have hard conversations, set goals, take risks and appoint new gatekeepers...shifting this balance is well within your power – and the health of your industries depend on it."

Being Antiracist

Toolkit and analysis of Anti-Racism.

'Reflect on choices you make in your daily life (i.e., who you build relationships with, what media you follow, where you shop). How do these choices reflect being antiracist?'

CALD: Why some say this label is failing Australians

Discussion of the CALD label (culturally and linguistically diverse) used in Australia (like BAME: Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) which seek to to bundle disparate people together just because they are different to the majority identity. The Diversity Council of Australia is trialing a new acronym: CARM (culturally and racially marginalised) to reflect the experience of being raciliased.

"the CALD acronym is hopelessly inadequate to assist organisations because it doesn't mention race at all.'

Change is trickling in, but our arc leans towards self-determination: Tony Briggs

Yorta Yorta/Wurundjeri creative Tony Briggs is the creator and writer of the Helpmann award-winning play, The Sapphires.

Tony reflects on the ubiquitous expectation that First Nations practitioners are ready to double as “First Nations consultants”, beyond the scope of their work, and self-determination’s role in distributing the economic benefits of First Nations content to communities.

'I don’t want to be the answer to every white producer’s cultural problem or the advisor for everything.'