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Article 27 of the Declaration of Human Rights enshrines the right to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share scientific advancement and its benefits. Last year, we evaluated Robert F Kennedy Human Rights’ Ripples of Hope Festival and included perspectives from artists, activists and others on how…

In a departure from our usual work in the arts and cultural sector, we’ve appreciated the opportunity to work with black-led CIC – The Diverse Creative – to interrogate how blackness intersects with disability in the workplace. What we learned was that the impacts of ‘race’ and neurodivergence combined and intersected in sometimes surprising ways according to…

We’re delighted to have been engaged to evaluate The World Reimagined, an ambitious programme of work spearheaded by luminaries including Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE, Baroness Lola Young, Yinka Shonibare CBE and Chair and co-founder, Michelle Gayle. This ground breaking, national arts education project aims to transform our understanding of the Transatlantic Traffic in Enslaved Africans and…

It’s been an interesting and stimulating few months working with Leeds Playhouse to develop a Plan for Change which sets out its ambitions and actions for racial justice. The process has been overseen by a Reference Group comprising trustees, senior leadership and staff from across all core functions of the organisation. Starting with a survey of…

Dr Tony Sewell’s report into racial disparities wasn’t the only research published last week which interrogated issues of ‘race’. With rather less fanfare and controversy, our evaluation of Eclipse Theatre’s ambitious Slate.Black.Arts.World was also signed off. At a time when it feels that we are increasingly cast adrift from the continent of Europe, it felt interesting to…

We’re looking forward to working with colleagues at Scarborough Museums Trust and Crescent Arts, supporting them to interpret diversity, equity and inclusion for their specific context. We anticipate some interesting and illuminating conversations with staff, trustees, freelancers, volunteers and others which will help to shape  framework for future actions. We also hope to test the…

We’re just completing an interesting piece of research on behalf of the Royal Armouries in Leeds supporting the organisation in gaining a more in depth understanding of its near neighbours in Hunslet and Riverside and Burmantofts and Richmond Hill – both inner city wards in Leeds which have changed and evolved over the period of…

It’s been great spending time with the team at Barnsley Museums, supporting them in developing evaluation techniques for its Arts Council England NPO programme. A particular highlight for us was the opportunity to spend time listening to Barnsley Bard, Ian McMillan wax lyrical about the value that museums bring to communities’ cultural life. To read…

Leah Francis is the Outreach Manager and Co-founder of Speak Woman Speak theatre collective. The Company formed in February 2013, and seeks to highlight hidden voices of diverse women. Work by the company includes: Loss, Unknown and Soledad & Betto funded by Arts Council England. The company’s work has been performed at Yorkshire Dance and…

Seki Lynch is a literary creative – he writes facts, fiction, poetry and lyrics. He is the author of a work of non-fiction, Ten Drinks that Changed the World, which is a compendium of ten different alcoholic spirits. Seki’s poetry has appeared online and in several print anthologies. He has written poetry for the V&A…