Arts Emergency: Break The Glass

A giant’ Break The Glass in Case of Arts Emergency’ case has been built to display examples of creative work from Arts Emergency’s young people showcasing some of the incredible raw talents which are at risk of being excluded from the arts.

Showbiz celebrities have supported Arts Emergency to raise awareness of marginalized groups’ struggle to get into the arts.
According to Arts Emergency, those who work in the creative industries are not representative of society. You are less likely to get a job in the creative sector if you are Black, Asian or from a minority ethnic background, from a working-class background, female, disabled or living outside of London and the South East. And the margins of difference claimed by them are not insignificant. A mere 4.8% of people working in music, the visual and performing arts are black, Asian, or from a minority ethnic background. The figure goes down to 2.7% for those employed in museums, galleries, and libraries.

According to their figures, a person from a privileged background is four times more likely than a person from a working-class background to have a job in the creative industries, a ratio that has held over four decades. Currently, only 16% of film and TV workers identify as working-class, and 40% of those in media are private school-educated.

This week has also seen celebrities across the entertainment world go online to call for change, encouraging creative professionals to help those from marginalized groups break into the sector. Amongst them were Jack Dee, Miranda Hart, Katy Brand, Michael Sheen, Neil Gaiman, Jenny Eclair, Samantha Morton, Nikesh Shukla, and Chris Addison.

More than twenty-five organizations have joined the campaign, including The British Film Institute, Get Up, Stand Up—The Bob Marley Musical, ATC Management, ATC Live, and LinkedIn. Many offer virtual open days, internships, artist workshops, and mentorship opportunities.

A new podcast, Crash Culture, will see Arts Emergency’s youth collective discuss social justice and the cultural sector with those in the business.

Arts Emergency founder Neil Griffiths said, “no matter what you’ve achieved, someone at some time gave you a leg up, and Arts Emergency is thousands of people from across the cultural and creative industries doing just that for the next generation by donating money, time and contacts to help them get in and get on.”

Credits
Brand: Arts Emergency
Campaign: #BreakTheGlass
Advertising Agency: FCB Inferno