Fifty years ago, cultural historian Naseem Khan published 'The Arts Britain Ignores', a report that challenged the British arts establishment to recognise and support the creativity of Britons from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Today, a conference in Leicester is exploring the legacy of this seminal work.
The report, commissioned by organisations including the then Arts Council of Great Britain, envisioned a pluralistic national culture encompassing everything from bhangra music to black painters and Ukrainian dance. Its relevance continues as debates around British identity persist.
Tomorrow, Dawn Airey, the new chair of Arts Council England, is scheduled to deliver her inaugural speech at the conference, titled 'The Arts Britain Ignores: 50 Years On', held at the Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage. Airey is expected to state that the journey Khan initiated remains central to the sector's work.
While black and Asian British visual artists like Frank Bowling, Sonia Boyce, and Anish Kapoor now receive critical acclaim, Khan's 1976 report highlighted how grassroots arts and cultural practices within UK ethnic minority communities were largely overlooked by funders and critics. Pawlet Brookes, chief executive of Serendipity Institute, noted that while funding has existed for culturally diverse organisations, sustainability and growth have been lacking, particularly in dance and theatre compared to visual arts.
The conference, which brings together artists, organisations, experts, and policymakers, will assess progress made over the past five decades. Contributors include Khan’s daughter, Amelia Torode, theatre director Jatinder Verma, broadcaster Brenda Emmanus, and crossbench peer Lola Young.