Reference
Bérubé, Julie, Jacques-Bernard Gauthier, Vivek Venkatesh. Perspective des milieux culturels quant au rôle des organismes face à l’équité, la diversité et l’inclusion. Conférence Équité, diversité et inclusion dans les milieux culturels: Rôle des organismes culturels. Canada, 2022
Summary
According to Florida’s research (2014), creative and cultural industries should not be affected by equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) issues because individuals’ competitive advantage is based on their talent and creativity, not dependent on factors such as ethnicity, gender, or social class. However, scientific research results point to systemic discrimination within these industries exacerbated by policies implemented for their promotion. Current research shows discrimination based on gender and ethnicity, as well as physical abilities, age, and location. Eikhof (2017) provides a theoretical framework that studies individuals (working in creative and cultural industries) and the decisions they make, as well as decision-makers and the context in which they make EDI-related decisions. However, Eikhof (2017) does not consider the role of cultural organizations. Yet, Acosta (2016) highlights their importance in shaping policies specific to cultural industries. The objective of this research is to understand the role of cultural organizations in matters of EDI within cultural industries. We conducted 65 semi-structured interviews with artists and cultural organization workers. Data collection took place in the cities of Gatineau-Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. The results of this research raise questions about grant programs, education, and how cultural organizations handle EDI issues. This research helps better understand the role of cultural organizations in EDI matters and identifies the perspective of artists in comparison to that of cultural organization workers.