Scottish Arts Council

Disability Equality Scheme2010-2012

Date: December 2009

Scottish Arts Council

12 Manor Place, EdinburghEH3 7DD

Telephone 0131 226 6051

Facsimile 0131 225 9833

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Help Desk 0845 603 6000 (local rate)

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Welcome and Introduction

Welcome

The arts community in Scotland and the Scottish Arts Council have come a long way on the journey towards a genuinely equitable and fully accessible approach to supporting our country’s creative ambitions. But much remains to be done. This Scheme describes how we will take our ambitions forward even through a time of change and uncertainty. We offer to Creative Scotland both a strong foundation to build on but a sizeable challenge in the work still to be done. I am confident that the commitment to equalities will permeate Creative Scotland’s activities. It will need to be able to describe in due course how it will make real that commitment in terms of job roles, investment and activities. The proposal for an ‘Equalities Advisory Group’ should have an important role in that regard. The ongoing commitment for another round of Flexible Funding creates the opportunity for creative enterprises to express their artistic and inclusive offer for the country. If we can achieve the full range of Actions included in this scheme we will have done a fine and important job, but to achieve those ambitions we will be dependent on working closely with our many partners and collaborators. I hope many of you will join us in that ambition.

Jim Tough

Chief Executive

Introduction

The Scottish Arts Council is the lead body for the funding, development and advocacy of the arts in Scotland. We offer a unique national perspective on the arts and their audiences. Our strategic leadership – development, funding and advocacy - is underpinned by specialist knowledge and experience in the management and delivery of the arts at national and international level.

A new company, Creative Scotland 2009 Ltd, has been established under the chairmanship of Ewan Brown. Subject to legislation in 2010, the Public Service Reform Bill, Creative Scotland will become the new lead body for arts and screen industries in Scotland, replacing the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen. We are working with Scottish Screen and Creative Scotland 2009 Ltd to make the necessary practical arrangements for the merger and we have embarked on an ambitious joint development programme with Scottish Screen and Creative Scotland 2009 to support strategic work which reflects the ambition and scope of the new body. It is anticipated that Creative Scotland will take on the recommendations outlined in this scheme.

The vision of the Scottish Arts Council is of a confident, cultured Scotland where everyone takes part in the arts. The Scottish Arts Council recognises Scotland's diversity and wishes to reflect this in everything we do and everything we fund. We are committed to ending unfair discrimination because of age, disability, gender, race, religion/belief, and sexual orientation.

If we are to succeed in this we need to recognise and act upon the barriers that limit the opportunities for disabled people to develop as artists, and to enjoy the best of our arts and culture as members of the audience and active participants. This is recognised in our commitment to the Social Model of Disability.

Organisational context

The Scottish Arts Council’s first Disability EqualityScheme published in 2006 outlined our commitment to disability access and inclusion, our plans for involving disabled people in the monitoring and implementation of the scheme. It also incorporated an eight section action plan, looking at:

  • Refining and implementing our Disability Equality Scheme
  • Leadership, governance and decision-making
  • Employment and training
  • Arts and arts development
  • Grants administration
  • Planning and research
  • Audience and organisational development
  • Marketing and publicity

Annual reports were produced in 2007, 2008 and 2009 highlighting progress and key activities against this.

The revision of this scheme has involved Scottish Arts Council staff, disabled and non-disabled, as well as external disabled and non-disabled individuals. An external consultation event took place in November 2009 involving 18 individuals. An online consultation was set up which generated 76 responses. An internal grouping of staff met to discuss the issues and comment was sought on the final draft of the revised scheme. Other consultation and involvement activities are detailed in the original scheme and subsequent reports.

This revised schemehas been developed within the context of the move to Creative Scotland which has stated that it wants to:

  • Encourage and sustain artists and creators of all kinds
  • Ensure that their work is accessible to all
  • Ensure that as many people as possible can participate in creative activities
  • Extend and increase the wider benefits of arts and culture, including their contribution to the promotion and development of our unique national culture and its wider place in the international sphere.

The Business Model outlines a new national agency with a realigned staff structure. Within that, it is anticipated that the delivery of equalities will be mainstreamed across the whole of the organisation, consolidating the work undertaken by the Scottish Arts Council’s specialist Equalities staff since 2001.See annual reports 2007-2009 (links given at the end of this document) for information on the key milestones since 2001.

Given the context in which this plan is being revised and the fluid nature of the organisation, an outline action plan is being recommended, looking at the key priorities for action within the eight operational areas identified within the original DES. The action plan is designed to capture the important points in year one, with a view to revising and refining the actions in December 2010 once Creative Scotland is more established.

1. Refining and implementing our Disability Equality Scheme

All staff at the Scottish Arts Council are responsible for contributing to the delivery of the Disability Equality Scheme. Statutory responsibility lies with the Joint Board (the governing body of the Scottish Arts Council), and through it with the Chief Executive.

Under the current code of practice it is our duty to assess the impact of Scottish Arts Council policies and practices, or the likely impact of our proposed policies and practices on equality for disabled people.

With the current transition to Creative Scotland, we are unable to fully review all aspects of our operations, and act to ameliorate all adverse impacts, in a single cycle of improvement. Once Creative Scotland is established it will need to prioritise for review those aspects of its functions which have most relevance to disabled people. This process of prioritisation and review should involve disabled people. Please see action plan for recommendations in relation to this.

Updates to legislation will need to be monitored to ensure that the Scottish Arts Council is aware of the Act’s provisions and any guidance available. The original DES describes the legislation and descriptions of disability under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). It also contains data on disabled people in Scotland and disabled people and the arts. Further information on this can also be found in the links section at the end of this document.

Reporting on this scheme and action plan will be undertaken in December 2010. This will provide an opportunity to review our plans, prioritise action and set new targets for the following two years. Outcome reporting is also built into our corporate planning and reporting processes.

1 / Action / Outcome / Responsibility / Timescale
1.1 / Ensure continued consultation on Disability Equality Scheme and reporting through publication, invited direct involvement and personal responses; dedicated sessions and specific events to discuss the reporting and the scheme/elements within it / involve disabled people in the continuous improvement of our Disability Equality Scheme / Co-Director of Arts (Policy) / throughout the year
1.2 / Agree timetabled programme of Equality Impact Assessments for Creative Scotland Policies & Procedures. These should prioritise employment policies and procedures, governance structures and marketing, publicity and information services. / Equality Impact Assessments take place systematically and are used to inform how we plan our services / Co-Director of Arts (Policy)
Directorate / By July 2010
1.3 / Make transfer of Disability Equality Scheme to Creative Scotland and set targets for 2011 and 2012 / Ensure disability equality plans are fit for purpose within the context of new organisation / Co-Director of Arts (Policy)
Equalities Advisory Group / By December 2010

2. Leadership, governance and decision making

The board of the Scottish Arts Council is part of a Joint Board with Scottish Screen. The Joint Board is appointed by, and is accountable to, Scottish Ministers and will assist in managing the change within the transition period from the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen to the new body Creative Scotland.

The board provides leadership, direction, support and guidance for the Scottish Arts Council as a whole. It makes sure that there is continuity of direction and management and promotes commitment to its core values, policies and objectives. Joint Board members include Jim McSharry, disabled actor and writer.

In early 2010, the board for Creative Scotland will be established following the guidelines set out by Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland. We would advocate for the direct representation of disabled people on the Creative Scotland board.

Specialist Advisors

Specialist Advisors are independent experts with knowledge of crafts, dance, drama, literature, music, visual arts, new media, cross artform areas, and capital development. They help us make decisions about funding and policy development. This includes artistic evaluations of projects and programmes supported by the Scottish Arts Council. We now have six advisors with specialist interest in equality areas. Future appointment of Advisors should be audited in relation to disability status, interest and experience.

Committees

The Scottish Arts Council currently has two committees to help in the monitoring of its aims and objectives and the development of corporate policy. The Committee structure will undoubtedly change as we move to Creative Scotland. Currently we have:

•The Lottery Committee

•The Joint Audit Committee, to help the Council deliver its responsibilities for conducting public business and stewardship of funds.

It is unknown what decision-making structures will be introduced but Creative Scotland should strive to ensure that members of committees, reference groups or other advisory structures are audited in relation to disability status, interest and experience.

2 / Action / Outcome / Responsibility / Timescale
2.1 / Set up Equalities Advisory Group including disabled staff members and external disabled advisors / Work to ensure that Equalities is kept on the agenda in the transition to Creative Scotland / Co-Director of Arts (Policy),
Equalities Officers / By end March 2010
2.2 / Advocate for the direct representation of disabled people on the Creative Scotland Board and any associated committees, reference groups or other advisory structures. / Work to ensure that disabled people have a voice at the highest level in the decision making processes of the new organisation / Directorate / By July 2010

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3. Employment and training

The DDA states that public bodies must set out arrangements for gathering information in relation to the employment of disabled people and ensure that employment related policies do not, directly or indirectly, have negative impacts on disabled people.

See our original DES and reports for statistical information and information on our current policies which relate to employment.

Over the past few years the Scottish Arts Council has taken a number of steps to increase its reporting of disability status amongst staff. Creative Scotland should aim to continue to improve the collection and analysis of data and take further action where the data identify an adverse impact on grounds of disability and publish the results on an annual basis.

All employment processes will need to be reviewed in the transition to Creative Scotland and disability and access considerations will need to be central to this. The HR policies and processes which may have the most bearing on disability equality include (the list is not exhaustive):

  • Data gathering (internal and external)
  • Training
  • Performance assessment
  • Staff absence
  • Staff support
  • Grievance and disciplinary procedures
  • Monitoring staff who cease employment

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3 / Action / Outcome / Responsibility / Timescale
3.1 / Review of induction process to ensure all new Board/committee/reference group members, advisors and staff are aware of access options and Scottish Arts Council (Creative Scotland's) commitment to equalities issues / Increased knowledge within staff team on the role of equalities issues within the Scottish Arts Council / Head of HR / By March 2010
3.2 / Ensure all staff and Board members undertake Disability Equality training sessions / Staff are aware of their legal and employee obligations, and transfer their learning into practice / Head of HR / By December 2010
3.3 / Collect and analyse data in relation to Creative Scotland staff and publish the results (resulting actions to be built into plans for 2011 and 2012) / Identify adverse impact on grounds of disability / Head of HR / December 2010
3.4 / Address identified training needs for all staff around welcoming and working with people with learning disabilities (particularly reception and other frontline staff) / Staff more aware of how to appropriately welcome and work with learning-disabled people / Head of HR / By December 2010

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4. Arts and Arts Development

The Scottish Arts Council directly supports work with disabled people – as artists, participants and audience members, as well as supporting disability arts projects and arts organisations run by disabled people. Specific previous actions and achievements are outlined in our original DES and reports

4 / Action / Outcome / Responsibility / Timescale
4.1 / Continue to ensure that where specific resources or events are commissioned, developed or directly supported by the Scottish Arts Council, access considerations are developed, proportional to the project's budget / Resources/events commissioned, developed or directly supported by Scottish Arts Council include access considerations which are proportional to the project's budget - where access issues are identified these will be stated explicitly / Co-Director of Arts,
Officers / Ongoing – guidance to be identified/refined by March 2010
4.2 / Identify strategic interventions that will inform policy creation on a artform-specific or cross-artform basis / The commissioning of reports (in the same mode as Dance and Disability in Scotland, 2008) and implementation of recommendations / Co-Director of Arts (Policy),
Officers / March 2010
4.3 / Planbudget spend on arts and disability activity / Ensure provision within Scottish Arts Council (Creative Scotland) budgets / Directorate / March 2010

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5. Grants Administration

The Scottish Arts Council is committed to improving accessibility, making it easier to access funding and providing help to grant applicants and recipients. This has been stated as a guiding principle for Creative Scotland’s operations.

Creative Scotland should continue to provide application forms in alternative formats and the system of one-to-one support should be continued. Online accessible application forms should be considered.

The applications system should collect equal opportunities monitoring information from individuals applying, and should consistently record which projects and organisations are specifically working with disabled people as audiences, participants and artists. Equalities data should continue to be collected from Foundation and Flexibly funded organisations.

5 / Action / Outcome / Responsibility / Timescale
5.1 / Establish Accessible Applications Working Group to identify how the entire process can be made more accessible and accountable including streamlining and simplifying funding processes & finding a mechanism for more automated collection & analysis of data / Feed in specific expertise and test approaches to improve accessibility / Head of Grants / By July 2010
5.2 / Improve and refine the collection of Equalities data as part of the annual returns from foundation and flexibly funded organisations in relation to changing legislation. / Equalities data to be collected, assessed and published to inform future actions in the plan / Senior Research & Evaluation Officer / By November 2010
5.3 / Implement targeted Equalities monitoring questions in to all application forms for individuals and organisations and the subsequent assessment forms / Improve the integration of Equalities considerations in to everything we fund / Senior Research & Evaluation Officer Head of Grants / Date not specified: progress to be reported in December 2010

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6. Planning and Research

Disabled people form one of the under-represented groups on which the Scottish Government requires data. Every three years, the Scottish Arts Council commissions a large-scale survey of the Scottish adult population, designed to establish the levels of attendance at various arts events and activities, participation in and attitudes towards the arts in Scotland. Creative Scotland should continue to collect data to strengthen the evidence base in relation to disabled people and the arts. Effective planning should ensure alignment with the DES and emergent Creative Scotland planning structures. The role of the Quality Framework in delivery of equalities should continue to be strengthened.

6 / Action / Outcome / Responsibility / Timescale
6.1 / Investigate options for the feasibility a disability-led arts organisation in Scotland with an advisory/support role for the whole arts sector / Sector-led disabled-led development / Co-director of Arts (Policy) / By December 2010
6.2 / Consider plans for gathering evidence of changes in participation and attendance of disabled people / Strengthening the evidence base / Senior Research & Evaluation Officer / By December 2010
6.3 / Ensure equalities is central to the continued development of the Quality Framework and its application in a Creative Scotland context / Equalities can clearly be seen to be central to the Quality Framework and continuous self improvement of organisations / Director of Planning and Communications / By September 2010

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