Question reference: S4W-30311
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 3 March 2016
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Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 March 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware that only a reported 11% of composers, musical directors and sound designers working in publically funded theatre in Scotland are women and, if so, what actions it is taking to improve the gender balance in Scottish theatre.
Answer
These figures are taken from Where are the Women? an analysis of creative roles by gender in Scottish theatre 2014-15 by Christine Hamilton Consulting, published on 8 March 2016.
Creative Scotland is monitoring gender imbalance in theatre as part of its current equalities, diversity and inclusion review, which will provide more robust data on those employed in the theatre and wider arts sector. Theatre has particular issues as working hours are often not family friendly and women have historically been under represented in science, technology, engineering, and maths professions. Creative Scotland is making equalities activity, including gender balance, a core expectation for those in receipt of public funding.