How can AI be used to increase diversity in the cultural and creative industries?
A report released by the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre this week shows that there is a lack of diversity in the cultural and creative industries. Co-writer of the report, Dr. Mark Taylor argues that there has been little change in the demographic composition of creative-sector workers over the last decade. Could AI provide some solutions?
Barriers to diversity
Fewer than 10% of people working within the arts and cultural sector come from a working-class background (compared to 23% for people in the wider workforce). There is an imbalance in the representation of non-white and disabled workers too, with fewer than 10% identifying as BAME and 20% identifying as disabled (compared to 22% and 24% in wider society respectively).
In The Guardian, it was reported that Neil Griffiths, co-founder of Arts Emergency (a charity which provides support and mentoring to young people with ambitions to work in the creative industry), said the problem was an "abysmal statement" on the Government and creative industries. Barriers cited in previous reports included a lack of stable wages, access to networks, work experience, education and equipment.
There is a conflicting message from the current Government who recognise the economic contribution made by the cultural and creative industries (£108 billion revenue per year and 2.3 million jobs), yet have reduced funding for arts education. They state an ambition to grow the cultural and creative industries by a further £50 billion by 2030 which is at odds with funding cuts to creative arts courses at English universities (now at around 30% of their 2021 levels). How will the performance of the sector continue to be maintained if the next generation of creatives are hindered by lack of access to the workforce and to education?
Could AI provide a solution?
Technology provides an opportunity to level up the creative industry, with Rishi Sunak acknowledging the UK has a competitive advantage compared to other countries. Accenture's UK Inclusion and Diversity Lead, Liz Barnesdale has stated that generative AI has the potential to produce a positive impact on diversity across industries “from the technology sector to creative and design”. This sentiment is shared by companies such as Procter & Gamble, American Express and 3M who have enlisted the services of XStereotype to address diversity in their marketing messages.
UNESCO cautions that AI should be used responsibly to avoid increasing societal divides, recommending that the technology should be used to promote diversity in the supply of, and access to cultural and creative work and experiences. The UK AI Regulation White Paper and the EU AI Act provide some positive steps forward for the regulation of AI but there is still much work to do to enhance their visibility, understanding and implementation.
Reassuringly, research from Accenture shows that the next generation of workers believe generative AI will have a positive impact on diversity as 53% of young women think it will enhance their career prospects, and 33% of Gen-Z respondents credited the technology for influencing their choice to work in the creative industries. Continued investment from Government, industry and academia is vital to bring their creative sector growth plans to fruition.