Charter for Equity

Shaping fairer working conditions in the region’s cultural sector

The Charter for Equity has been developed through sector research, consultation, and collaboration, with the aim of improving working conditions, workplace culture and accountability across the region’s cultural ecology. It focuses on creating a shared framework that supports fairer practice while recognising the realities of how organisations and freelancers work.

A pilot programme is currently underway with a group of cultural organisations and practitioners: That! Dance CIC, Live to Your Living Room, Black Country Touring, Stourbridge Glass Museum, Open Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Together, they are testing the Charter through self-assessment, action learning and peer review.

The six pilot partners are exploring three key themes:

• Inequality and oppression

• Material working conditions

• Agency and power

These themes have been developed through research with Dr Lucy Lopez, working alongside the sector, Charter caretakers, and Culture Central’s Inclusive Network. The themes reflect shared priorities identified through sector engagement and learning and wider consultation activity.

Interested to hear more? Fill in this form to receive updates from Culture Central about the Charter for Equity pilot programme.

Header image: 2022-24 Birmingham Poets Laureate at Birmingham Literature Festival 2022, credit Lee Allen