Count me in! Manchester International Festival
Manchester International Festival
Manchester, UK
Interdisciplinary
“Count me in!” is all about sharing stories that highlight diversity, equality, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging in the seat of art festivals. In this series you will hear their stories, and see how we can all make a difference by standing up for each other.
Below is a statement submmited by the Manchester International Festival through the Count me in! survey:
"Look around you, look at the people making the decisions in your organisation – not just superficially, but in terms of different aspects of their lived experience. If the representation amongst the people who are purported to be driving the change and development in this area lacks diversity and therefore your work is viewed through one dominant lens, it will continue to be more of a struggle to do this work.
If the same group of people are not open to learning about being more inclusive and in some instances, drastically changing their worldview – sometime at odds with culture or tradition – involvement in these discussions will be performative.
One suggestion is to explore the potential for digital engagement as a way to increase accessibility and diversity. Offering more opportunities for people to interact with the festival remotely (through live streams, online discussions, etc.) can extend the reach beyond those who can physically attend, creating more inclusive experiences.
It’s also important to recognise that DEIAB is an ongoing journey. Building reflective programming and volunteer bases takes time, and being transparent about both successes and challenges is key to gaining trust from audiences and stakeholders."
By Sonia Watson-Fowler,
MIF Equalities & Representation Manager.