OAFP 6345 - How do diversity and inclusion really matter in the cultural sector?

More than ever, diversity & inclusion matter in the cultural and creative sector: it raises the question of how cultural organizations discover and encourage new talents, and how they recruit more diverse technical, administrative and production teams. It questions the way in which artistic programming stimulates the diversity of views and is instrumental in the reinventing of audience development strategies. It challenges the way cultural organizations see their relations to their complex environments: what is the role and place of cultural organizations in our societies ?

The pandemic has clearly accelerated this process, and it is crucial to study carefully how a strategic policy of diversity & inclusion in the cultural sector can be implemented, if one wants to work in this sector.

This course is based on case studies of creative and cultural organizations in France, Europe and abroad, and will be supported by interviews with representatives of such organisations to better understand the current changes and the sensitivity to diversity & inclusion in the cultural sector.

This course will adopt a comparative method, analysing how the cultural sector operates compared to other social or business sectors, and how the situation in France differs from other countries in Europe and in the Americas.

Joachim PFLIEGER

Enseignement électif

English

1 “weather report” to be prepared by each student (for the entire course program) for an oral presentation of 5 minutes maximum. Each student will contribute to one unique “weather report” for the entire course program.

1 essay to be written and delivered at the end of the course (6 Word pages)

1 preparation of a guest's interview (readings, limited research, etc.): each student will contribute to one preparation during the whole semester.

We will use some key principles of the sociology of organizations to better understand how diversity & inclusion policies are implemented or not in the cultural and creative sector and use for instance tools such as sociogram or strategic analysis to better understand how individuals interact.

Recommended reading : Rozier, M., & Friedberg, E. (1977) L'Acteur et le Système : Les Contraintes de l'Action Collective. Seuil, Paris

Spring 2023-2024

30% Simulation exercise on how to implement a diversity policy in a cultural institution (negotiation, strategic analysis, stakeholders' strategy) : oral and group exercise

30% Case study: an essay of 6 pages (theme selected by the student, to be approved by the teacher). Theme: how does a cultural organization (a cultural institution, a festival, a non-for-profit, a creative industry, among others) try to implement a Diversity & Inclusion policy ? What challenges do they face?

20%: preparation of one of the guests' interviews (drafting ahead of the session and asking questions in the classroom)

10%: an oral “weather report” to start each session (a 5 minute-briefing on the latest – international news related to diversity & inclusion in the cultural sector)

10%: student's participation

The course is based on lessons on key topics, including a few interviews with special guests (working in the cultural sector in France and abroad).

The Simulation exercise is a group and oral work.