Equity, Diversity and
Inclusion in the
Cultural Sector:

The objective of Bérubé, Gauthier, and Venkatesh’s research is therefore to identify the role of cultural organizations with respect to EDI issues within the cultural industries. We collected data through 65 semi-structured interviews with artists and cultural organization workers in Gatineau-Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. The results of this research raise questions about granting programs, education, and the ways in which cultural organizations address EDI issues.

According to the concept of the caring museum, the role of the museum is no longer to bring the visitor to a work or content, but to encourage his or her autonomy in the face of art, history or science. In a context where Quebec’s cultural policy calls for supporting the cultural and inclusive participation of people with disabilities, the research will present physical, social and informational barriers and facilitators to cultural access.

Many want to improve inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) in their cultural organization. Often the starting point and the process is challenging for leaders who are already overwhelmed and/or lack the resources and tools to take action. Using simple and effective theoretical frameworks, CHRC offers to demystify the process that starts with your will and leads to the implementation of organizational policies that support your vision of IDEA.

From research initiated to measure representation in the visual or performing arts, to assessing COVID’s impact on marginalized groups, community members and organizations have stepped up to explore, challenge, and validate assumptions to advance the conversations and actions related to EDI. Join us as we discuss the role community-initiated research plays, the impact it can make, and how we see it moving forward.

As part of Emily Carr University of Art and Design’s Aboriginal Gathering Place and Mass Culture’s Research in Residence: Arts’ Civic Impact initiative, Sydney Pickering, Connie Watts, and Nadia Beyzaei will share their work in connecting with local arts-based organizations that create innovative projects with Indigenous and racialized artists and collectives.

When an art form fails to respect the dignity of others, it fails as an art form. Ballet wields significant cultural capital and needs to be more inclusive in all aspects – from auditioning, to training, to the stage and beyond. Without adaptation and evolution, we will not heal or progress as an art form and as a society.

In this communication, Cindy and Geneviève talk about their experience in accompanying disabled artists in the exercise of their profession, name the important issues experienced by these people, underline the importance of certain initiatives, and share their thoughts and possible solutions to make the cultural industries more inclusive towards people with disabilities.

Before COVID-19 ravaged the world with particular impact on communities of the global majority in the United States, and Black Americans faced a remarkable summer of killings at the hands of police; a colleague confessed that he considered access, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) work noise. Yet, addressing systemic marginalization and oppression in the creative sector remains the most significant issue warranting the sector’s undivided attention. To assist in this work, in this presentation, I define ADEI, I also describe how cultural organizations can apply ADEI to their thinking, in closing, I examine four key developments that the sector should pay special attention to while institutionalizing ADEI.

Over the past years, the City of Val-d’Or in Abitibi-Témiscamingue has undertaken various initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Today, these issues affect the First Nations communities in the city as much as the immigrant population or people with disabilities. As a result, municipalities are taking measures to ensure that various municipal services and policies reflect the desire to draw attention to EDI-related concerns across all sectors. In many ways, these practices are beneficial to the cultural industries and can offer inspiring approaches. In this podcast, Paul-Antoine Martel, representative of the City of Val-d’Or, discusses the projects initiated in his community as well as the opportunities and challenges that municipal organizations face.

The Canada Council for the Arts aims to support a vital and diverse arts ecology that enriches the lives of Canadians, and equity is a critical means to achieving this. In that respect, the Canada Council is passionate about knowledge mobilization and the promotion of an innovative, data driven culture in support of public funding of the arts in Canada. The Research, Measurement and Data Analytics (RMDA) section undertakes research, program evaluation and performance measurement activities related to the Canada Council’s priorities and commitments, as well as sector-wide trends in the arts. RMDA collects and reports on data pertaining to equity from individuals, groups, and organizations through various mechanisms. This podcast with Daniela Navia, Senior Research and Evaluation Analyst at the Canada Council, presents highlights from information gathered by the Canada Council through its corporate reporting, performance measurement, and evaluation activities and informs listeners on how the data collected inform the Canada Council’s approach to equity, diversity and inclusion.