Agenda item

Report of the Head of HR, Barbican Centre.

The Board received a report of the Head of HR presenting an Equality and Diversity Action Plan for the Centre, with particular reference to the planned efforts over the coming year and the intent to gather and analyse a greater range of data to inform future activity.

In response to queries as to how the four initial focus areas had been selected, the Head of HR advised that in view of the present lack of data across the board it had been felt sensible to focus first on those areas where it was sensed that the Centre was underperforming, without significant data being needed to underpin these assumptions, and where a quick impact could be made. This would ensure that progress could be affected whilst data collection to inform other areas of work in future years took place simultaneously.

A Member urged that consideration be given to a focus on sexual orientation and LGBT issues in future years, as too often within the arts sector an implicit and sometimes unwarranted belief that there were no issues was taken for granted; it was also suggested that Stonewall’s best practice guidance around data collection could be particularly useful. The Head of HR thanked the Member for his comments and advised that the Corporation had recently employed an expert to provide advice and establish a number of diversity groups across the Corporation, including the Barbican Centre.

A Member observed that the language used within the strategy was sometimes difficult to penetrate and thus could cause difficulties in facilitating an understanding of what the Centre was seeking to measure; it was urged that clear wording and communication be used. The Head of HR agreed that it would be important to avoid jargon and advised that the Barbican’s Communications team would be exploring this issue in relation to the strategy.

Members also stressed the importance of benchmarking any data against that from comparative institutions, such as the South Bank Centre, to ensure that any analysis was meaningful and would provide a truer sense of the Barbican’s position.

Giving adequate consideration to the issue of risk in this area would also be crucial, as unexpected developments could potentially delay or prevent any progress being made. It was urged that due consideration be given to developing and understanding potential risks in this area, with the Deputy Chairman reassuring Members that the Risk Committee would take on board the recommendation and consider this in due course.

RESOLVED: That the report be received and its content noted.