Women working in the UK arts sector feel they do not have equal opportunities for roles, especially as they get older, according to a new report. The research suggests the industry is overly focused on "young and emerging" talent.
A survey of 76 arts professionals found that nearly all (95%) women believed gender inequality persisted. Three-quarters (75%) reported experiencing unconscious bias or sexism. More than two-thirds (69%) felt that age negatively affected their career success, a figure that reached 100% among those in artistic roles.
The report also stated that gender discrimination and ageism may be worsened by the use of AI in hiring, which could penalise women for career breaks due to caring responsibilities or reinforce existing biases. Dr Jennifer Tuckett, chief executive of Women in the Arts and author of the report, described the findings regarding age discrimination and the potential for AI to increase these issues as "particularly worrying."
The research is part of a five-year project by Women in the Arts, funded by Arts Council England, and is intended to inform a taskforce addressing the needs of women in the cultural sector. The report calls for more targeted work, including increased funding, representation targets, leadership programmes, and algorithmic audits to minimise bias.