[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":530},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-access-in-the-outdoor-arts":3},{"title":4,"summary":5,"primaryImage":6,"heroImage":25,"heroTagline":37,"newsTags":38,"postDate":52,"location":10,"author":53,"authorLink":54,"intro":62,"slices5":68,"presentedBy":147,"partners":152,"withRelatedNews":157,"relatedNews":158,"tags":526,"id":528,"publishedDate":529},"Alice – On Access in the Arts","Walk the Plank Producer Alice Carter on her thoughts about championing access in the outdoor Arts industry.",{"dimensions":7,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":11,"id":12,"edit":13,"meta":18},{"width":8,"height":9},4000,3000,null,"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002FaLAo7WGNHVfTOZeL_ManchesterDay2022%2CMarkWaugh-8-.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=194,0,3112,2334&w=4000&h=3000","aLAo7WGNHVfTOZeL",{"x":14,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},194,0,1,"transparent",{"dimensions":19,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":22,"id":12,"edit":23},{"width":20,"height":21},1200,630,"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002FaLAo7WGNHVfTOZeL_ManchesterDay2022%2CMarkWaugh-8-.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=0,248,3500,1838&w=1200&h=630",{"x":15,"y":24,"zoom":16,"background":17},248,{"dimensions":26,"alt":28,"copyright":10,"url":29,"id":12,"edit":30,"portrait":32},{"width":8,"height":27},2850,"Three people dressed in pink, purple and pink costumes, with face paint, smiling, holding drums. ","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002FaLAo7WGNHVfTOZeL_ManchesterDay2022%2CMarkWaugh-8-.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=112,0,3276,2334&w=4000&h=2850",{"x":31,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},112,{"dimensions":33,"alt":28,"copyright":10,"url":34,"id":12,"edit":35},{"width":27,"height":8},"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002FaLAo7WGNHVfTOZeL_ManchesterDay2022%2CMarkWaugh-8-.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=919,0,1663,2334&w=2850&h=4000",{"x":36,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},919,[],[39],{"newsTag":40},{"id":41,"type":42,"tags":43,"lang":44,"slug":45,"first_publication_date":46,"last_publication_date":46,"uid":45,"data":47,"link_type":49,"key":50,"isBroken":51},"ZICbOhAAACEAg-h0","newsTag",[],"en-gb","thoughts","2023-06-07T14:59:09+0000",{"title":48},"Thoughts","Document","ed7b4dfb-f605-4310-879d-9591baeb6e9d",false,"2025-08-27T23:00:00+0000","Alice Carter",{"id":55,"type":56,"tags":57,"lang":44,"slug":58,"first_publication_date":59,"last_publication_date":60,"uid":58,"link_type":49,"key":61,"isBroken":51},"Zco-5BEAALRjFi3A","team",[],"alice-carter","2024-02-12T15:54:27+0000","2025-05-07T10:19:28+0000","8681941a-1031-4e87-b334-d5c682c33fc8",[63],{"type":64,"text":65,"spans":66,"direction":67},"paragraph","Access is a term that can be defined in many ways. For me, it simply means removing barriers that exist for artists to create work and audiences to engage with that work.",[],"ltr",[69,95,124],{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":72,"primary":73,"id":93,"slice_type":94,"slice_label":10},"default","initial",[],{"heading":10,"body":74},[75,78,81,84,87,90],{"type":64,"text":76,"spans":77,"direction":67},"These could range from physical, geographical, socio-economic barriers to non-visible community specific barriers.  ",[],{"type":64,"text":79,"spans":80,"direction":67},"Celebrating and championing access to the arts, especially for underrepresented demographics, is something I am particularly passionate about and, throughout my career, I have found myself drawn to projects and artists that hold inclusivity and accessibility as a central pillar of their practice. This has included, during covid, producing and touring a ‘sort of dance’ show centring fat masculine and non-binary bodies and working with Unlimited and ND artist Byron Vincent to develop the UK’s first neurodiverse accessible rave - Disco Neurotica.  ",[],{"type":64,"text":82,"spans":83,"direction":67},"It was my desire to continue developing innovative creative projects with an accessible minded ethos that appealed to me about Walk the Plank, and since joining the team just over 18 months ago I have seen exactly how Walk the Plank works to embed access into each project we deliver.  ",[],{"type":64,"text":85,"spans":86,"direction":67},"Most recently within Walk the Plank’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Working Group we have been discussing how access intersects with the different areas of our work. ",[],{"type":64,"text":88,"spans":89,"direction":67},"There is an immediate freedom that comes from working outdoors, untethered by the physical constraints of a building, that is exciting. The scope of what you can dream up feels wider and taller, with no building regulations or faulty lifts to prevent people from accessing the work you dream up.  ",[],{"type":64,"text":91,"spans":92,"direction":67},"Access will look different from project to project. Regardless, I have found it crucial to think about access during the planning stage of a project and embed it into every step of that project’s creation, delivery and evaluation. This ranges from budget creation, to the artists we decide to work with, the conversations we have with those artists to understand both their individual needs and communicate the project’s creative approach, to how we collaborate with the communities we’re working in to better understand and address their specific needs.  ",[],"text_block$59d791dc-a99e-4dcf-bf01-270b3dc945bc","text_block",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":96,"primary":121,"id":122,"slice_type":123,"slice_label":10},[97,104,112],{"image":98,"caption":10},{"dimensions":99,"alt":100,"copyright":10,"url":101,"id":102,"edit":103},{"width":8,"height":27},"Three performers wearing a pink, purple and blue outfit and holding drums","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002Fa3c38743-b500-44ea-bcae-264f36e22287_MWjun22-298639.jpeg?auto=format,compress&rect=112,0,3276,2334&w=4000&h=2850","ZHcrhhAAACYAkjJW",{"x":31,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},{"image":105,"caption":10},{"dimensions":106,"alt":107,"copyright":10,"url":108,"id":109,"edit":110},{"width":8,"height":27},"A close up images of a drummer smiling in the sunshine with colourful eye makeup and colour on","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002FaCHWdydWJ-7kR7MF_ManchesterDayOnHoliday%2CMarkWaugh-62-.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=145,0,4211,3000&w=4000&h=2850","aCHWdydWJ-7kR7MF",{"x":111,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},145,{"image":113,"caption":10},{"dimensions":114,"alt":115,"copyright":116,"url":117,"id":118,"edit":119},{"width":8,"height":27},"A group of children dressed up and smiling into the camera","Mark Waugh, Manchester Day 2010","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002Fd59b4f77-fce6-4168-b1be-d4e6aae743e6_Manchester+Day+Parade.+WTP.MCC+%28c%29Mark+Waugh.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=181,0,5255,3744&w=4000&h=2850","ZNyeCxEAADsYx8_Z",{"x":120,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},181,{},"image_carousel_block$01e5b8fe-ea61-43b3-be1b-318ad4dd62ca","image_carousel_block",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":125,"primary":126,"id":146,"slice_type":94,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":10,"body":127},[128,131,134,137,140,143],{"type":64,"text":129,"spans":130,"direction":67},"As a Producer, I have found the most success when I am honest with myself and the people I am working with about the resources available and what we can realistically achieve. In my experience, this may mean identifying one or maybe two barriers to focus on and using your resources to effectively put in place funds and initiatives to support the community most affected by those barriers. One of the worst things you can do at the project planning stage with regards to access is overpromise and underdeliver.  ",[],{"type":64,"text":132,"spans":133,"direction":67},"I feel strongly that best practice should be to work collaboratively with people with lived experience of the access needs you are addressing. It is also helpful to research what work is already happening in the area you’re working in and look to support rather than ignore that work. Partnering with local organisations or individuals within the community allows you to contribute to the ongoing ecology of the area, enhancing initiatives and agendas that last beyond the immediate scope of your project. ",[],{"type":64,"text":135,"spans":136,"direction":67},"Recently myself and some of the Walk the Plank team were lucky enough to attend Graeae Theatre’s Beyond Artist Showcase, spotlighting work from Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent artists.  ",[],{"type":64,"text":138,"spans":139,"direction":67},"As part of the day, we chatted to the Graeae leadership team about the organisations work around and use of Access Riders, discussing their increasing prevalence within the culture industries and best practice for supporting artists, collaborators and audiences’ with access needs.  ",[],{"type":64,"text":141,"spans":142,"direction":67},"The result is that in DEIB we have begun to examine whether a formalised access rider could be a useful tool in supporting Walk the Plank’s communication with artists and audiences. It’s an ongoing process which, as all good conversations should, raises more questions than answers, opening up new areas for exploration and allows Walk the Plank and myself to continue developing and embedding access at the heart of our creative practice.  ",[],{"type":64,"text":144,"spans":145,"direction":67},"Ultimately, we feel that culture is vital for a healthy and rich society but that is only meaningful if we realise that dream for all and not just some. ",[],"text_block$b4b3c99a-db1e-4c88-a62e-80139673c36f",[148],{"link":149,"label":10,"logo":151},{"link_type":150},"Web",{},[153],{"link":154,"label":10,"logo":156},{"link_type":155},"Any",{},true,[159,320],{"id":160,"postDate":161,"type":162,"uid":163,"author":164,"presentedBy":165,"slices5":169,"intro":261,"withRelatedNews":157,"title":265,"relatedNews":266,"primaryImage":284,"summary":294,"heroImage":295,"partners":304,"newsTags":308},"aIdztBAAACMADlHR","2025-07-29T23:00:00+0000","news","animating-communities","Ruth Jones",[166],{"link":167,"label":10,"logo":168},{"link_type":150},{},[170,184,201,240,249],{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":171,"primary":172,"id":183,"slice_type":94,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":10,"body":173},[174,177,180],{"type":64,"text":175,"spans":176,"direction":67},"A parade is a celebration of people and a theme, whether it’s an anniversary, an opening of an event or festival, a subject of history, heritage – the list is endless, and as a choreographer who works in the outdoors, it’s the community participation and collective celebration that I'm passionate about, and where both mine and Walk the Plank’s passion collide. It’s this passion which has drawn me into a fifteen-year partnership with Walk the Plank, working on their weird and wonderful processions and community-centred parades. ",[],{"type":64,"text":178,"spans":179,"direction":67},"As a freelancer I enjoy working solo, but working with Walk the Plank means being part of a team, a team that is there to support you, and allow you to learn and grow by collaborating with highly skilled people. And I relish this collaboration... all those creative minds; those in costume, prop design, musicians etc. bouncing ideas off one another, feeding each other's creativity. ",[],{"type":64,"text":181,"spans":182,"direction":67},"A project often begins with a call from one of Walk the Plank’s Producers and a discussion around an event outline. For example; can we animate the streets of Ashington with a parade themed around climate change? From there, discussions of where choreography can help animate the work\u002Fevent begin.  ",[],"text_block$c807c57e-1ec3-4e46-a9d5-3fec841594cb",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":185,"primary":186,"id":200,"slice_type":94,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":10,"body":187},[188,191,194,197],{"type":64,"text":189,"spans":190,"direction":67},"Which community groups are most suitable? Who can we engage with? Which costumes and music will work best and how many Dance Captains do we require to assist with the making of the work?  ",[],{"type":64,"text":192,"spans":193,"direction":67},"All this work is underpinned by one of Walk the Plank’s super-efficient and creative Production Managers, with administrative support. After rehearsals, the performance on the day of the event is usually like a well-oiled machine with Walk the Plank. But a typical performance day for me means ‘meet and greets’ with the participants, warmups and last rehearsals with the Dance Captains to instil confidence in the groups. Creating a supportive environment is something that is very important to cultivate so once we’re in positions, we move as one.  ",[],{"type":64,"text":195,"spans":196,"direction":67},"My role on the route is usually to cue and keep the high energy of the parade up, whilst making sure participants keep to the choreography, this is often helped by support from Dance Captain. I do, in truth, get to experience the vibrancy and visual splendour of the whole parade coming together.  ",[],{"type":64,"text":198,"spans":199,"direction":67},"Experiencing the teamwork and enjoyment of the community involved in the parade is what I love most. I love working on parades. I love my job.  ",[],"text_block$0aea9f26-fa46-46bd-9427-f80a4751fbb4",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":202,"primary":238,"id":239,"slice_type":123,"slice_label":10},[203,210,218,224,231],{"image":204,"caption":10},{"dimensions":205,"alt":206,"copyright":10,"url":207,"id":208,"edit":209},{"width":8,"height":27},"A young girl dressed in a handmade colourful costume in a parade. ","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002FaIzHhaTt2nPbZppO_IMG_8589.jpg?auto=format,compress&rect=181,0,5255,3744&w=4000&h=2850","aIzHhaTt2nPbZppO",{"x":120,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},{"image":211,"caption":10},{"dimensions":212,"alt":213,"copyright":10,"url":214,"id":215,"edit":216},{"width":8,"height":27},"A person dressed as a blue butterfly dancing in a parade","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002FaIn3KlGsbswqTeRz_MWjly25-019589.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=48,0,1404,1000&w=4000&h=2850","aIn3KlGsbswqTeRz",{"x":217,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},48,{"image":219,"caption":10},{"dimensions":220,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":221,"id":222,"edit":223},{"width":8,"height":27},"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002FaIn21VGsbswqTeRj_MWjly25-018789.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=48,0,1404,1000&w=4000&h=2850","aIn21VGsbswqTeRj",{"x":217,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},{"image":225,"caption":10},{"dimensions":226,"alt":227,"copyright":10,"url":228,"id":229,"edit":230},{"width":8,"height":27},"A group of people in black tops and jeans dancing in a parade","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002FaIn251GsbswqTeRl_MWjly25-018980.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=48,0,1404,1000&w=4000&h=2850","aIn251GsbswqTeRl",{"x":217,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},{"image":232,"caption":10},{"dimensions":233,"alt":234,"copyright":10,"url":235,"id":236,"edit":237},{"width":8,"height":27},"Two people dressed in blue, black and red costumes smiling in a parade","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002FaIn2i1GsbswqTeRd_MWjly25-019067.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=48,0,1404,1000&w=4000&h=2850","aIn2i1GsbswqTeRd",{"x":217,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},{},"image_carousel_block$8d76bc74-575a-4b07-8145-e95c7e1e0d78",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":241,"primary":242,"id":248,"slice_type":94,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":243,"body":244},"Manchester Day",[245],{"type":64,"text":246,"spans":247,"direction":67},"This year is my thirteenth year working on Manchester Day Parade, and this year I have been working with the Filipino Anglo group to bring a modern movement twist to traditional dances, I’ve also been collaborating with an adult group to create a ‘birds of paradise’ movement. My role as a choreographer working with groups is to explore with them and then support movement selection, helping to shape the overall choreography, aligning it with the music and importantly with parade work, help animate any costume or prop.  ",[],"text_block$6e734498-79c4-4fa3-a64c-5a408637b54f",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":250,"primary":251,"id":260,"slice_type":94,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":252,"body":253},"Moving forward ",[254,257],{"type":64,"text":255,"spans":256,"direction":67},"Parade choreography is unique in that it travels forward, past a static audience. And though travelling forward, it’s required to open out to the right and left, to engage the static audience. Through rehearsals I'm able to teach participants the skills that performing in a parade requires to be successful in engaging the watching crowds, whilst also allowing participants to develop their own purpose within a parade, whether that’s waving flags or moving to the music in a confident and joyful manner which then reflects in the atmosphere of the whole parade.  ",[],{"type":64,"text":258,"spans":259,"direction":67},"I am looking forward to continuing this important, collaborative work, helping communities take pride in public celebrations and bringing outdoor events to life through movement. ",[],"text_block$58de1053-8063-471f-b2ad-0cf7883e7b55",[262],{"type":64,"text":263,"spans":264,"direction":67},"Ruth Jones, freelance choreographer with 40+ years' experience, started her career working in contemporary dance in theatres before moving to the world of outdoor arts 30 years ago. Since then, she has worked with Walk the Plank on many outdoor arts events, particularly on our parades and processions. Here’s her thoughts on that work: ",[],"Animating Communities: The Art and Impact of Choreography  ",[267,275],{"entry":268},{"id":269,"type":162,"tags":270,"lang":44,"slug":271,"first_publication_date":272,"last_publication_date":273,"uid":271,"link_type":49,"key":274,"isBroken":51},"aFrHcBIAACYADjUr",[],"hope-and-celebration-in-a-time-of-uncertainty","2025-06-24T15:45:18+0000","2025-12-16T15:19:50+0000","e7a4be37-5c87-460e-ad47-c905a8f8edd4",{"entry":276},{"id":277,"type":162,"tags":278,"lang":44,"slug":279,"first_publication_date":280,"last_publication_date":281,"uid":282,"link_type":49,"key":283,"isBroken":51},"Z7R2-RIAACEA3QsT",[],"international-touring-and-environmental-responsibility","2025-02-18T14:48:10+0000","2025-05-12T10:38:56+0000","international-touring-environmental-responsibility","79851b66-2995-42e9-a1e5-368b6d6d9498",{"dimensions":285,"alt":234,"copyright":10,"url":286,"id":236,"edit":287,"meta":289},{"width":8,"height":9},"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002FaIn2i1GsbswqTeRd_MWjly25-019067.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=83,0,1333,1000&w=4000&h=3000",{"x":288,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},83,{"dimensions":290,"alt":234,"copyright":10,"url":291,"id":236,"edit":292},{"width":20,"height":21},"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002FaIn2i1GsbswqTeRd_MWjly25-019067.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=0,106,1500,788&w=1200&h=630",{"x":15,"y":293,"zoom":16,"background":17},106,"Ruth Jones, freelance choreographer with 40+ years' experience has worked with Walk the Plank on many outdoor arts events, particularly on our parades and processions. Here’s her thoughts on that work.",{"dimensions":296,"alt":297,"copyright":10,"url":221,"id":222,"edit":298,"portrait":299},{"width":8,"height":27},"A person dressed in a green dress dancing in a parade",{"x":217,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},{"dimensions":300,"alt":297,"copyright":10,"url":301,"id":222,"edit":302},{"width":27,"height":8},"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002FaIn21VGsbswqTeRj_MWjly25-018789.JPG?auto=format,compress&rect=394,0,713,1000&w=2850&h=4000",{"x":303,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},394,[305],{"link":306,"label":10,"logo":307},{"link_type":155},{},[309,313],{"newsTag":310},{"id":41,"type":42,"tags":311,"lang":44,"slug":45,"first_publication_date":46,"last_publication_date":46,"uid":45,"link_type":49,"key":312,"isBroken":51},[],"5f645ddf-758e-4dde-8291-2562d35604b1",{"newsTag":314},{"id":315,"type":42,"tags":316,"lang":44,"slug":317,"first_publication_date":318,"last_publication_date":318,"uid":317,"link_type":49,"key":319,"isBroken":51},"ZICaxhAAACEAg-Y1",[],"views","2023-06-07T14:57:27+0000","3e506651-5c9b-4e8b-809e-47e6868858b4",{"id":321,"postDate":322,"type":162,"uid":323,"author":324,"presentedBy":325,"slices5":329,"intro":464,"withRelatedNews":51,"title":474,"relatedNews":475,"primaryImage":494,"summary":505,"heroImage":506,"location":516,"partners":517,"newsTags":521},"ZktV0xEAACMAqisT","2024-03-29T00:00:00+0000","deib-production-and-producing","Alicia Eccleston & Ben Turner",[326],{"link":327,"label":10,"logo":328},{"link_type":150},{},[330,346,382,433],{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":331,"primary":332,"id":345,"slice_type":94,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":333,"body":334},"AMA's Breakthrough programme",[335],{"type":64,"text":336,"spans":337,"direction":67},"Taking part in Arts Marketing Association’s Breakthrough programme has underpinned the work our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging working group spearheaded throughout 2023. We are currently weaving our learning throughout all aspects of Walk the Plank, helped by the fact that the Breakthrough team consisted of representatives from all departments of the organisation, including Production and Producers. Here are those representatives; Production Coordinator Alicia Eccleston, and Salford Producer Ben Turner's thoughts on how they have championed DEIB and helped implement change within their departments.",[338,342],{"start":339,"end":340,"type":341},470,486,"strong",{"start":343,"end":344,"type":341},509,519,"text_block$6e27f12c-23dc-4817-acc3-471c96038fa8",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":347,"primary":348,"id":381,"slice_type":94,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":349,"body":350},"Production - Alicia Eccleston",[351,354,357,363,366,369,372,375,378],{"type":64,"text":352,"spans":353,"direction":67},"Within the Production team at Walk the Plank, discussions around DEIB have evolved and are taking centre stage in our plans for 2024 and beyond. The Breakthrough programme taught us the power of implementing small, manageable changes over time rather than going full speed ahead and running out of steam.",[],{"type":64,"text":355,"spans":356,"direction":67},"The most effective small change we made was putting DEIB on our weekly production team meeting agenda. This was implemented quickly and without difficulty, yet it has led to a magnitude of big conversations and positive actions. DEIB has been at the heart of many Walk the Plank projects over the past 32 years, but in production we acknowledge that elements of it can be de-prioritised in the wake of tight budgets, looming deadlines, and sometimes decreased capacity and resources.",[],{"type":64,"text":358,"spans":359,"direction":67},"Now that DEIB holds space on all agendas, it’s easier for us to hold ourselves accountable to our mission and remind ourselves of its value.",[360],{"start":15,"end":361,"type":362},140,"em",{"type":64,"text":364,"spans":365,"direction":67},"Since the DEIB conversation has been louder and more embedded in our work culture, we have recognised that the production team feel more confident and comfortable discussing DEIB and its significance. Aside from my role as Production Coordinator, I have now become the new chair of the DEIB working group, and notably in a recent company conference, one of our Production Managers, facilitated a conversation around how we can achieve equity in the arts. Not only was this a lively discussion, but it also resulted in tangible solutions, new perspectives and a feeling of calm optimism.",[],{"type":64,"text":367,"spans":368,"direction":67},"It's also important to consider that fruitful conversations can only happen in a safe space, and to feel safe, the working environment must promote inclusion and belonging. During the Breakthrough programme we realised Walk the Plank’s superpower was the ‘belonging’ element of DEIB and we were encouraged by the Breakthrough coaches to focus on what we were already doing well and cultivate it. To do this, the production team ensures they add crew, artists and people they have worked with to the contact database, allowing the marketing team to send out regular updates with work socials, upcoming events and opportunities, so everyone who works with us feels included and valued as a member of the team.",[],{"type":64,"text":370,"spans":371,"direction":67},"We also encourage our freelancers and visitors to enjoy their lunch with our core team staff when they are at our HQ. This golden hour (lunchtime) results in a diverse range of people from all backgrounds at our kitchen table - the perfect base for interesting conversations and collaborations. If you’re lucky, you might get to participate in an infamous jacket potato lunch (with all the trimmings), try an array of Polish sweet treats (thanks to our finance manager!) or get involved in a legendary Walk the Plank fish and chip Friday.",[],{"type":64,"text":373,"spans":374,"direction":67},"As a small production team made up of five core staff members, we know that our extended team working in pre-production and on-site assist us in making our large-scale spectacles happen. Their involvement and commitment are paramount to our success. We are also aware of the next goal outlined by the DEIB working group: to be able to walk onto a Walk the Plank event site and see a demographic makeup that matches that of the UK \u002F Greater Manchester by September 2025. We will continue to celebrate our freelancers, update them on employment opportunities and where possible assist them with training to grow and develop. Nevertheless, to expand our network, we also aim to be proactive in our shared ambition to make space for emerging work experience opportunities and open our doors to even more talent and diversity.",[],{"type":64,"text":376,"spans":377,"direction":67},"We believe it’s our duty as outdoor arts experts to share our knowledge and nurture those interested in working in the field. We are in the process of interrogating how placements and opportunities work within our company, from initial contact to working with the team. Although daunting without the resources for a current learning programme in place, for now we are looking at how we can achieve equity in the arts with the resources we do have.",[],{"type":64,"text":379,"spans":380,"direction":67},"Finally, one of our Emerging Creative placements, who was part of the DEIB working group, produced a practical Event Accessibility checklist which has been added to our standard resources kit. It reminded us that our knowledge surrounding DEIB is ever-evolving and we need to ensure our resources are up to date and reflect best practice today.",[],"text_block$f951ec14-b659-4316-b6df-b86dccd591f7",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":383,"primary":384,"id":432,"slice_type":94,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":385,"body":386},"Producing - Ben Turner",[387,390,395,398,403,406,409,412,417],{"type":64,"text":388,"spans":389,"direction":67},"As an Arts Council England NPO we have a small core team, so working cross departmentally to take a genuinely whole organisation approach is easier than it is for other cultural institutions.  We can be fluid, dynamic and joined up strategically but also work in a conversational and organic way. This meant that the Breakthrough programme and the seeds that have sprouted from it were impactful, not just in terms of what they have led to, but also how they might be implemented. (Perhaps small is beautiful after all.) We can build on this increased understanding and expand our thoughts while also refining how to embed them, so we’ve gone from working out what DEIB is (to us), to thinking how we can develop and improve DEIB at Walk the Plank. We understand there are many ways of doing this and that we don’t have all the answers – or sometimes even the questions! – but there are 3 things from a Producer perspective that we’re putting in place moving forward:",[],{"type":64,"text":391,"spans":392,"direction":67},"1. More opportunities to formalise our process and make it easier to articulate it in a transparent way",[393],{"start":15,"end":394,"type":341},103,{"type":64,"text":396,"spans":397,"direction":67},"This includes considering DEIB at the initial budgeting point of project planning to help ensure that extended timeframes and lead in times are in place e.g. staff being available for a conversation as part of application process (if helpful or required) and considering how access and support are integral in these early stages of a project as they often are with evaluation or sustainability.",[],{"type":64,"text":399,"spans":400,"direction":67},"2. Facilitate placements on as many projects as possible to support the development of emerging professionals",[401],{"start":15,"end":402,"type":341},109,{"type":64,"text":404,"spans":405,"direction":67},"Each term producers create a list of potential project opportunities which is shared with students from the University of Salford, and a small number of other FE partners. In Autumn, 2023 this led to students participating in several of our projects.",[],{"type":64,"text":407,"spans":408,"direction":67},"Increasing opportunities for placements is a different approach to the extensive work that took place with our previous artist training programme - which required funding - and has allowed us to continue to develop emerging creatives even when pots of money are no longer available.",[],{"type":64,"text":410,"spans":411,"direction":67},"We are committed to expanding this to include connections with wider communities than education and more diverse socio-economic vocational pathways than higher education.",[],{"type":64,"text":413,"spans":414,"direction":67},"3. Part of the conversation is having the conversation and looking outward",[415],{"start":15,"end":416,"type":341},74,{"type":64,"text":418,"spans":419,"direction":67},"In the longer term we’re interested in looking at approaches to DEIB in the wider outdoor arts sector, but to start with we’ve taken a geographical snapshot and invited two local organisations DIY and START to come for a lunchtime meeting and share more about their work in this area. As both involve putting participants at the centre of their work, it was particularly interesting and informative in terms of good practice. Moving forward, we’re going to build on this open approach to shared learning and invite other Salford partners.",[420,427],{"start":421,"end":422,"type":423,"data":424},193,196,"hyperlink",{"link_type":150,"url":425,"target":426},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.diytheatre.org.uk\u002F","_blank",{"start":428,"end":429,"type":423,"data":430},201,206,{"link_type":150,"url":431,"target":426},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.startinspiringminds.org.uk\u002F","text_block$a7ae733c-c32a-4c96-be64-b8ef16cc2d67",{"variation":70,"version":71,"items":434,"primary":435,"id":463,"slice_type":94,"slice_label":10},[],{"heading":436,"body":437},"Moving Forward",[438,441],{"type":64,"text":439,"spans":440,"direction":67},"This year, our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging working group will continue to use the structure, knowledge and new-found confidence that the Breakthrough programme gave us. Moving forward together, stronger and more determined than ever – ready to continue to champion our values and build a more inclusive organisation.",[],{"type":64,"text":442,"spans":443,"direction":67},"Created as part of a three part series for Culture Hive. Read blog one here and blog three here. ",[444,450,451,456,457,462],{"start":445,"end":446,"type":423,"data":447},43,55,{"link_type":150,"url":448,"target":449},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.culturehive.co.uk\u002Fresources\u002Fbehind-the-scenes-walk-the-planks-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging-journey-blog-1-stronger-together\u002F","_self",{"start":445,"end":446,"type":341},{"start":452,"end":453,"type":423,"data":454},71,75,{"link_type":150,"url":455,"target":449},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walktheplank.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Fdiversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging-journey\u002F",{"start":452,"end":453,"type":341},{"start":458,"end":459,"type":423,"data":460},91,95,{"link_type":150,"url":461,"target":449},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.walktheplank.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Fdeib-marketing-communications-recruitment\u002F",{"start":458,"end":459,"type":341},"text_block$cb9724c0-6f22-4296-a799-80edd338d727",[465],{"type":64,"text":466,"spans":467,"direction":67},"In the second of three blogs sharing our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging journey, Production Coordinator Alicia Eccleston, and Salford Producer Ben Turner share their thoughts on how they have championed DEIB and helped implement change within their departments.",[468,471],{"start":469,"end":470,"type":341},116,133,{"start":472,"end":473,"type":341},155,165,"Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Journey - Production and Producing",[476,485],{"entry":477},{"id":478,"type":162,"tags":479,"lang":44,"slug":480,"first_publication_date":481,"last_publication_date":482,"uid":483,"link_type":49,"key":484,"isBroken":51},"ZktNYxEAACUAqh6w",[],"diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging-journey---stronger-together","2024-05-20T13:20:11+0000","2024-05-20T15:20:06+0000","diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging-journey","33579c21-4dd1-4124-a44d-c073529d866e",{"entry":486},{"id":487,"type":162,"tags":488,"lang":44,"slug":489,"first_publication_date":490,"last_publication_date":491,"uid":492,"link_type":49,"key":493,"isBroken":51},"ZktpSxEAACQAqka0",[],"diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging-journey---marketing-communications-and-recruitment","2024-05-20T15:16:29+0000","2024-05-20T15:21:01+0000","deib-marketing-communications-recruitment","6e9c86a8-a07a-49b7-8bcc-599919d59a97",{"dimensions":495,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":496,"id":497,"edit":498,"meta":500},{"width":8,"height":9},"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002F633713a8-be60-4be8-915d-909910c6fe2f_Festival-Of-The-Sea-Grimsby-2021-127.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=107%2C0%2C1707%2C1280&w=4000&h=3000","ZL_i4BEAACIAMgnG",{"x":499,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},107,{"dimensions":501,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":502,"id":497,"edit":503},{"width":20,"height":21},"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002F633713a8-be60-4be8-915d-909910c6fe2f_Festival-Of-The-Sea-Grimsby-2021-127.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=0%2C136%2C1920%2C1008&w=1200&h=630",{"x":15,"y":504,"zoom":16,"background":17},136,"Production Coordinator Alicia Eccleston, and Salford Producer Ben Turner share their thoughts on how they have championed DEIB and helped implement change within their departments.",{"dimensions":507,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":508,"id":497,"edit":509,"portrait":511},{"width":8,"height":27},"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002F633713a8-be60-4be8-915d-909910c6fe2f_Festival-Of-The-Sea-Grimsby-2021-127.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=62%2C0%2C1796%2C1280&w=4000&h=2850",{"x":510,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},62,{"dimensions":512,"alt":10,"copyright":10,"url":513,"id":497,"edit":514},{"width":27,"height":8},"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.prismic.io\u002Fwalktheplank\u002F633713a8-be60-4be8-915d-909910c6fe2f_Festival-Of-The-Sea-Grimsby-2021-127.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&rect=504%2C0%2C912%2C1280&w=2850&h=4000",{"x":515,"y":15,"zoom":16,"background":17},504,"Cobden Works, Salford, Uk",[518],{"link":519,"label":10,"logo":520},{"link_type":155},{},[522],{"newsTag":523},{"id":41,"type":42,"tags":524,"lang":44,"slug":45,"first_publication_date":46,"last_publication_date":46,"uid":45,"link_type":49,"key":525,"isBroken":51},[],"aa8f841f-63d5-4c3e-afb0-c49369e044d3",[527],{"id":41,"postDate":46,"type":42,"uid":45,"title":48},"aKdHDhEAACoA-TBy","2025-08-27T10:40:55+0000",1785167633637]