Creative Manchester is an interdisciplinary platform based at The University of Manchester, championing research in creativity and creative practice and bringing together research communities with external stakeholders to explore new research areas and address strategic opportunities. 

Authored by the University’s Dr Hannah Curran-Troop as part of her one-year UKRI HEIF-funded fellowship with Creative Manchester, a new report explores workforce challenges in Manchester’s cultural sector. This work marks a major partnership between Manchester City Council’s Culture Team and Creative Manchester.

With the City Council recently launching a new cultural strategy for the city, Always Everywhere (2024-2034), the research report set out to offer key insights into the current issues facing Manchester’s cultural workforce. In line with the strategy’s renewed focus on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), the fellow undertook a deep dive into issues relating to workforce diversity, recruitment, retention, talent development and skills.

The study’s key findings reveal that despite the widespread uptake of EDI initiatives and workforce development interventions, there are still stark inequalities around diversity and leadership in Manchester. The issues range from challenges diversifying the leadership cohort; to problems attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds; to widespread experiences of isolation in leadership; to skills gaps relating to fundraising, digitalisation, and pastoral support; to mental health issues and the wider care crisis; to challenges around responding to polarised political debates. 

This report puts forward five key recommendations which offer a route to broadscale positive change in Manchester’s cultural industry. These recommendations make use of several Manchester-specific opportunities – namely, the close-knit ties between organisations, the context and tone of the new cultural strategy, and the desire for deeper cross-institutional collaboration around EDI.

Recommendations

1. Encourage a new network of cultural leaders
2. Create a formalised Manchester mentorship scheme
3. Facilitate joined-up coaching provision across cultural organisations
4. Mid to high-level training schemes/placements for emerging leaders
5. Develop a joined-up EDI model

You can read the full report on Creative Manchester’s Outputs webpage.