How do we diversify the arts sector both in terms of audience and workforce? This is a difficult question to answer and something that is being re-highlighted by Arts Council England. At the SLG, in terms of artists, we are running a project called Making Routes with Battersea Arts Centre and Oasis Children's Venture, consisting of residencies for disabled and non-disabled artists across all three venues along with a culminating inclusive festival, and on the housing estates local to the gallery we are commissioning artists who include those that are culturally representative of the local community. Staff-wise we are setting up new traineeships for which we are hoping to attract applicants who are under-represented in galleries and who are thinking about an alternative to studying at University. Each traineeship will include accreditation and will be tailored to meet the interests of the successful applicant. We have also set up a diverse Community Forum with up to 25 people from the local area who are advising us on how to become more inclusive and helping us to access audiences we do not already engage with.

There is no quick fix to addressing the creative case for diversity but investment now by galleries should pay off in the future and readdress gaps in both visitors and staffing.

Exhibition-wise I recently visited Ain't I Beautiful at 198 Contemporary Arts & Learning, and I am looking forward to seeing The Place is Here at Nottingham Contemporary and also Jamie Crewe: Female Executioner at Gasworks.