MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
Performing arts industry body, the Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST) and strategic partner Parents and Carers in Performing Arts (PiPA) welcome Scottish Government Workplace Equality Fund support for plans to improve business resilience through increased access for parents and carers in Scottish performing arts companies.
Figures from PiPA’s 2018 Balancing Act report indicate that parents and carers working in the performing arts sector earn £3,000 less than their counterparts without caring responsibilities. Women are particularly at risk, being more than twice as likely than men to be the primary carer. Unpredictable working patterns, last minute and ad-hoc engagements, regular evening, weekend and holiday work and touring mean that meeting work and family commitments can present significant and often insurmountable challenges for carers and parents.
FST and PiPA will use the funds to develop a new Scotland-specific programme of research and events to help performing arts businesses to attract, support and retain a more diverse workforce. Based on PiPA’s tried-and-tested resources, the project has the potential to realise far-reaching benefits for creative industries in Scotland and those who work in them.
Jude Henderson, Director of FST, said: ‘There are more than 769,000 carers across Scotland, including over 26,000 young carers. Like every other industry, the performing arts is looking at more sustainable ways of working including better work-life balance. We are delighted that Scottish Government has recognised our commitment to exploring innovative ways of making sure that new voices are heard and new stories told in Scotland and beyond. It’s vital too that we meet the need for flexibility behind the stage: many more people are employed by theatres than are ever seen by the public and this funding allows us to share good practice across all roles.’
Anna Ehnold-Danailov and Cassie Raine, Co-Founders and Directors of PiPA, said: ‘We are thrilled at this opportunity to develop our programme of activity in Scotland. There are 73,000 people working in the Creative Industries in Scotland of which around 20,000 are considered to be working within the ‘arts’ subsector, many of whom will have caring responsibilities. There are challenges and opportunities that are unique to Scotland that this funding allows us to investigate further. We are looking forward to strategising with new and existing Scottish partners and working collaboratively to find solutions to increase access to work for parents and carers.’
Notes for Editors
Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST)
The Federation of Scottish Theatre is the membership and development body for professional dance, opera and theatre in Scotland, bringing the sector together to speak with a collective voice, to share resources and expertise and to promote collaborative working.
FST represents a network of over 200 professional performing arts organisations and individuals throughout Scotland including main house producers, presenting venues, touring companies, companies working in schools and communities, companies producing and presenting work for children, dance companies, local authority venues and educational establishments.
FST undertakes advocacy at a national level with government and funding bodies, co-ordinates capacity building initiatives and provides training, advice and other services to members to secure the creative future of dance, opera and theatre in Scotland.
Parents and Carers in Performing Arts (PiPA)
PiPA enables and empowers parents, carers and employers to achieve sustainable change in attitudes and practices in order to attract, support and retain a more diverse and flexible workforce. By working in partnership PIPA raises awareness, finds creative solutions and promotes best practice in the UK Performing Arts.
Parents in Performing Arts Board of Directors is: Vick Bain (former CEO BASCA) Daniel Buckroyd, Artistic Director & Chief Executive, Exeter Northcott Theatre, Kirsty Doubleday, Director of Client Services, Dewynters; Noma Dumezweni, Actor; Anna Ehnold-Danailov PiPA Co-founder; Sarah Jackson OBE, work-life balance and flexible working campaigner; Cassie Raine PiPA Co-founder; Stephanie Sirr, CEO Nottingham Playhouse (Vice-Chair); Natalie Williams, Head of Research, UK Music; Hannah Young, Finance Director, Rambert.
PIPA Strategic Partners are: Actors Children’s Trust; BASCA; BECTU; Birmingham Rep; Dancers’ Career Development; Dance Professionals Fund; Dance Umbrella; Donmar Warehouse; Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society; English National Ballet; English National Opera, English Touring Theatre; Equity; Family Arts Campaign; Featured Artists Coalition; Federation of Scottish Theatre; FEU; Help Musicians UK; Hull Truck Theatre Company; ITC; Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse; LW Theatres, Mercury Theatre; Musicians Union; National Theatre; National Theatre of Scotland; National Theatre Wales; National Union of Journalists; Nottingham Playhouse; One Dance UK; Opera North, Out of Joint; Oval House; Rambert; Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh; Royal Opera House; Royal Shakespeare Company; Sadler’s Wells; Scottish Ballet; Scottish Opera; SDUK; Shakespeare’s Globe; Sheffield Theatres; SOLT UK Theatre; Sonia Friedman Productions; Spotlight; Stellar Quines; Tangled Feet; Theatr Clwyd; The Old Vic; UK Music; Writers Guild of Great Britain
Contact: Agnieszka Swida, Marketing and Communications Manager, FST. Tel 0131 248 4842; email Agnieszka.Swida@scottishtheatre.org
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