WHAT WE DO
We work with early-career and emerging artists from Brighton and beyond who are disadvantaged and/or underrepresented.
Terms we use and why they're not ideal:
About the terms 'disadvantaged' and 'underrepresented':
Disadvantaged:
We don't really like this term. It might change. Still, we think that for the moment it best describes what we're talking about. Largely 'disadvantage' is about self-identification and we'd very much like to say that we're learning all the time.
In practice, what we mean by disadvantaged is that in some way an artists is working despite battling against at least one barrier to access in the arts.
Some (though not all) examples of identifying as 'disadvantaged' might be if a creative:
Underrepresented:
This term is less ill-defined. Underrepresented means any person who does not match the majority of those making a career in the creative sector. That is to say, a creative might consider themselves 'underrepresented' within the industry if they are:
We know that we've probably described a huge amount of creatives who are trying to get a foothold in the industry.
That's the point.
We believe that the creative sector shouldn't be a repetition of the same faces, the same backgrounds and the same narratives.
Intersectionality
We operate on the understanding that many people fall into more than one category and that that these barriers intersect to form less opportunity within the creative industry. We aim to be intersectional in our approach and always be learning and improving the support we give.
Terms we use and why they're not ideal:
About the terms 'disadvantaged' and 'underrepresented':
Disadvantaged:
We don't really like this term. It might change. Still, we think that for the moment it best describes what we're talking about. Largely 'disadvantage' is about self-identification and we'd very much like to say that we're learning all the time.
In practice, what we mean by disadvantaged is that in some way an artists is working despite battling against at least one barrier to access in the arts.
Some (though not all) examples of identifying as 'disadvantaged' might be if a creative:
- self-identifies as coming from a working class, under-class or benefit class background
- does not have financial or housing support from their family, no matter what their upbringing.
- is working in another job outside the industry while also trying to forge a creative career
- is a parent full-time or a parent while also working another job and trying to forge a creative career
- is a single-parent or co-parenting with a former partner
- is a carer in some other way while trying to forge a creative career
- is financially unable to take up unpaid work / internships within the creative sector
Underrepresented:
This term is less ill-defined. Underrepresented means any person who does not match the majority of those making a career in the creative sector. That is to say, a creative might consider themselves 'underrepresented' within the industry if they are:
- Black, Asian and/or Minority Ethnic
- LBGTQI+
- managing / living with / have experience of mental health difficulties/disorder/illness
- claiming refugee / asylum status within the UK
- disabled - visible /non-visible
- not neurotypical / neurodiverse / process information 'differently' from the majority when learning or experiencing the world
- older / younger than their career-level peers
- not in possession of formal education qualifications
We know that we've probably described a huge amount of creatives who are trying to get a foothold in the industry.
That's the point.
We believe that the creative sector shouldn't be a repetition of the same faces, the same backgrounds and the same narratives.
Intersectionality
We operate on the understanding that many people fall into more than one category and that that these barriers intersect to form less opportunity within the creative industry. We aim to be intersectional in our approach and always be learning and improving the support we give.