Arts Council - IiD Gold - Testimonial

Don’t hesitate to collaborate with the Irish Centre for Diversity. They strongly supported us on our journey to improve EDI awareness and focus. They also helped with pertinent and reliable information and expertise in their field.

THE ARTS COUNCIL’S INVESTORS IN DIVERSITY (IiD) JOURNEY

Having developed its Equality, Diversity & Implementation strategy, the Arts Council was rolling out a number of initiatives internally to build awareness around EDI and was keen to benchmark its progression against other organisations.

The Irish Centre for Diversity offered a best practice research-based roadmap, professional learning options, and the opportunity to monitor and evaluate how we were doing. In terms of understanding our positioning in the sector and nationally, this has been of immense benefit.

EDI & Belonging is fundamental and crucial to organisational culture, well-being and performance. Fairness matters and awareness breeds Allyship and passion. The Arts Council carries this understanding in the knowledge it’s a journey, and sometimes a battle, to be continually pursued and built on.

Our employees became natural ambassadors. They wanted to see more regarding EDI matters and actively review and improve EDI processes.

Having completed the accreditation over a 3-year period, while we recognise there is still much to do…

– We have increased the number of LGBTQIA applicants

– Our gender balance has increased

– Today we have over 15 nationalities employed at the Arts Council

– Our quota of people employed with a disability is over 10%

– We have also restructured governance around EDI to achieve greater buy-in from all staff members