A report published in the spring by the National Museums Directors' Conference (NMDC) recommended that national museums set 'goals' to address the imbalance'.
The recommendations were drawn up by the NMDC Working Group on Cultural Diversity. In addition, it recommended increasing the numbers of ethnic minority visitors and trustees, and a review of collections, research and public programmes. Eight national museums and galleries were represented in the group, which began meeting in 2004.
Maurice Davies, the deputy director of the Museums Association, who sat on the working group, said national museum directors as a group would not have addressed this issue four or five years ago. He said: 'For me, the most significant thing is that cultural diversity should be a proper part of a strategic planning process.'
Figures in the report put the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London as having the highest number of curators from ethnic minority backgrounds - 7 per cent of its total. The National Portrait Gallery, National Museums Liverpool (NML), the Tate and the Museum in Docklands all have no curators from ethnic minority backgrounds, while NML and the National Maritime Museum in London both have one senior manager of African, Caribbean or Asian heritage.
Amy de Joia, the director of development and communications at NML, sat on the working group. She said NML introduced a two-year positive action trainee programme this year, and already two people have joined the ethnology curatorial department and another person has joined the marketing department.
Although NML has no people from ethnic minorities in paid curatorial positions at present, it does have ten people in front-of-house and cleaning roles. De Joia said: 'Curatorial is a key area, but it is not the only one.' She said it was equally important 'to ensure a diverse workforce across the board'.
The report recommends the adoption of programmes such as Diversify, Inspire and Global Graduates. Yolande Beckles, the director of Global Graduates, has been working with some national museums to help them diversify their staff. She said the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the V&A, the Tate and the Petrie Museum were 'seriously looking at this'.
But Beckles added: 'When museums see those working towards this getting bigger grants than those who don't, that's when things will change.'
David Lammy, the culture minister, has laid down the gauntlet to museums to find a way to improve the number of staff from ethnic minority backgrounds. He has described the current situation as 'dire'.
Davies said: 'It is now for David Lammy to judge whether this is a good enough response.'
www.nationalmuseums.org.uk/diversity.html
Felicity Heywood
The recommendations were drawn up by the NMDC Working Group on Cultural Diversity. In addition, it recommended increasing the numbers of ethnic minority visitors and trustees, and a review of collections, research and public programmes. Eight national museums and galleries were represented in the group, which began meeting in 2004.
Maurice Davies, the deputy director of the Museums Association, who sat on the working group, said national museum directors as a group would not have addressed this issue four or five years ago. He said: 'For me, the most significant thing is that cultural diversity should be a proper part of a strategic planning process.'
Figures in the report put the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London as having the highest number of curators from ethnic minority backgrounds - 7 per cent of its total. The National Portrait Gallery, National Museums Liverpool (NML), the Tate and the Museum in Docklands all have no curators from ethnic minority backgrounds, while NML and the National Maritime Museum in London both have one senior manager of African, Caribbean or Asian heritage.
Amy de Joia, the director of development and communications at NML, sat on the working group. She said NML introduced a two-year positive action trainee programme this year, and already two people have joined the ethnology curatorial department and another person has joined the marketing department.
Although NML has no people from ethnic minorities in paid curatorial positions at present, it does have ten people in front-of-house and cleaning roles. De Joia said: 'Curatorial is a key area, but it is not the only one.' She said it was equally important 'to ensure a diverse workforce across the board'.
The report recommends the adoption of programmes such as Diversify, Inspire and Global Graduates. Yolande Beckles, the director of Global Graduates, has been working with some national museums to help them diversify their staff. She said the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the V&A, the Tate and the Petrie Museum were 'seriously looking at this'.
But Beckles added: 'When museums see those working towards this getting bigger grants than those who don't, that's when things will change.'
David Lammy, the culture minister, has laid down the gauntlet to museums to find a way to improve the number of staff from ethnic minority backgrounds. He has described the current situation as 'dire'.
Davies said: 'It is now for David Lammy to judge whether this is a good enough response.'
www.nationalmuseums.org.uk/diversity.html
Felicity Heywood
