Do you want to increase diversity? Pay people for the job they do
Thomas Talawa Prestø leads the network Critical Friends. After many years in an overwhelmingly white cultural sector, he is clear: There is no quick fix to increase cultural diversity. However, he knows where to start.
Critical Friends is a network of artists from all of the Nordic countries, who all have a multicultural background and strategic diversity skills. The aim of the project has been to help those engaged in the arts to develop strategies for a more inclusive culture sector. They will be sharing the results at the conference Nordic Dialogues in Oslo, on 2–3 December.
Prestø is also the artistic director of the dance ensemble Tabanka, and works on audience development at Dansens Hus in Oslo.
What exactly is a critical friend?
– A critical friend is an ally who wishes the best for the project. Someone who brings in their skills, provides input and constructive criticism in order to achieve objectives.
For the last three years, the group has provided constructive criticism to Nordic culture schools, museums and libraries, among others. Critical Friends has also collaborated with arts councils and political leadership in the Nordic countries. This has provided the group with a unique overview of the trends, potential and challenges within the culture industry.
Find out what skills you need
One of the most significant challenges are leaders who do not know what they need, Prestø argues.
– In general, we see that many believe they can simply take a course or be given a quick briefing. Or just be sent a single sheet of recommendations or a formula to use – and everything will be so easy.
Leaders must understand that there is not necessarily a quick fix available to increase diversity within their institution, says Prestø.
– It must be acknowledged, to a far greater degree, that working with diversity and ethnicity is a specific skill set. A skill set that takes time to build up; and a skill set that should be given emphasis in the appointment process and in project management.
Stop asking people to work for free
– "Couldn't you simply give me a list of eight people you could recommend?"
When you ask people to use their time, their skills and network, that they have likely spent many years in building up – pay them for the work they do, emphasises Prestø.
– "But you are so passionate about it!" This is a phrase everyone at Critical Friends and many of those they work with have heard repeatedly. Diversity in the entire culture sector is actually driven by the voluntary efforts of black people, and without them, even good intentions fall by the wayside.
Stop asking for a ‘friendly turn' and get yourself a critical friend
After three years, Critical Friends has acquired a great deal of knowledge from throughout the Nordic countries, that they will share at the conference Nordic Dialogues.
– We have been able to examine diversity processes across national borders and in many different cultural sectors simultaneously, and have been able to compare best practices, and the pros and cons of the ways in which the different countries have set up their own arts sectors.
– With the overview that Critical Friends has acquired, it is both extremely interesting and a fantastic resource that we hope these sectors will be able to utilise, also after the project has ended.
Join the conference Nordic Dialogues in Oslo, on 2–3 December
Read more about the project Inclusive cultural life in the Nordic region
About Thomas Talawa Prestø
Prestø has extensive experience of the Norwegian arts sector. His multi-ethnic heritage and experience of working in "white" spaces in a "black" body has characterised his artistry as a dancer and choreographer. He is known for developing the Talawa technique, based on African and Caribbean dance forms. With the Tabanka Dance Ensemble he has reached out to more than a quarter of the Norwegian population, had three premières at the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, two seasons at Dansens Hus and toured ten countries. Prestø sits on the boards of Scenekunstbruket, Balansekunst, Oslo World, Norske Dansekunstnere and is a jury member of the annual prize for best practices in audience development, awarded by Norsk Publikumsutvikling.
About Critical Friends
Critical Friends is an expert advisory group of black, brown and indigenous arts and culture professionals representing all Nordic countries. The group was established as part of the project "An Inclusive Cultural Sector in the Nordics" (2017-2019). The handpicked advisory group represents a diversity of artistic expressions, cultural backgrounds, personal experiences and competence in different fields of research such as race and gender theory. The group has offered advice and recommendations on inclusion and diversity work throughout the project.
Participants:
- Thomas T. Prestø (Norway), group leader.
- Nadia Abraham (The Faroe Islands), founder and artistic director of FIMFF, Faroe Islands Minority FilmFestival.
- Alexander Montgomery-Andersen (Greenland), dancer, choreographer, and founder of AXL Productions.
- Ninos Josef (Sweden), ballet dancer, actor and activist. Editor in chief of Kultwatch and board member of the Swedish Arts Grants Committee.
- Julienne Doko (Denmark), dancer, choreographer and instructor.
- Jeannette Ehlers (Denmark), visual artist.
- Kemê Pellicer (Finland), visual artist and project coordinator for Global Art Point.
- Sandra Mujinga (Norway), visual artist and performance artist.
- Nermine El Ansari (Iceland), visual artist.
- Nayab Ikram (Åland Islands), photographer and visual artist.