Arts Council has implemented a range of new recruitment internal and external approaches with the aim to make the process more inclusive. This includes unconscious bias training for staff and recruitment training for hiring managers, the culture change toolkit and advertising all permanent posts externally at the same time as we advertise internally. We have also reviewed where we place job adverts to reach a diverse candidate pool.

Art Council is a Disability Confident employer and member of Business Disability Forum to inform best practice on recruitment and employment of disabled candidates/employees.  Arts Council guarantees an interview for any candidate with a declared disability that meets the essential criteria for the role.

We have removed the Criminal Records question from our application form, and have removed dates and name of school/ college/ university – candidates only need to declare qualifications which are relevant to the role they are applying for.

We have redesigned all interview record forms and shortlisting matrix documents and have written new guidance for hiring managers to reduce the potential for unconscious bias in our selection process. You can read more about Art Council’s changes to recruitment in CEO Darren Henley’s blog ‘Changing our Recruitment’

Initiative by: Arts Council England