Arts, Culture and Heritage: Audiences and Workforce

A Creative PEC State of the Nations Report

Arts, culture and heritage play a vital role in the UK, enriching society and generating new ideas, while also significantly contributing to local economies.

However, there are persistent social inequalities in who produces and participates in arts, culture and heritage, and who gets the opportunity to work in the sector.

This State of the Nations report from the Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) uses census data to provide, for the first time, a comprehensive analysis of audiences and workforce. The insights shed light on where progress has been made on inclusion, and where significant inequalities and barriers still exist that require policy interventions.

Key findings

  • The proportion of people working across arts, culture and heritage who are White is 90%; higher than the general workforce figure at 85% according to Labour Force Survey data from 2023.
  • In terms of class inequality, 60% of arts, culture and heritage workers grew up in a household where the main income earner was in a ‘managerial or professional’ role; the equivalent figure for the whole workforce is 43%.
  • In ‘Film, TV, video, radio and photography’ just 8.4% of people identify as being from a working-class background.
  • Women comprise only 34% of ‘managers and directors in the creative industries.’

For organisations, funders, policymakers, and anyone passionate about improving access and representation in arts, culture and heritage, this report is essential reading.

Download report here


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