Liverpool Philharmonic believes that equality of opportunity and reflecting the rich diversity of Liverpool City Region are central to our artistic success, continuing audience growth and long-term sustainability.  We will embrace and champion the opportunities that diversity offers in our leadership, company members and in the artists and musical genres we present.

As a major cultural institution we have a responsibility to serve and to represent all the diverse communities of our City Region. We also want to ensure that we continue to be relevant to all the people of the Liverpool City region.

And we recognise that diversity is fundamental for the development of our business.

If we are disadvantaging any sector of the population, we are failing in our mission and in our responsibility. And we are potentially losing audience members, musicians, diverse partners and staff members – ultimately losing potential skills and talent; and not performing or presenting some great music.

So, for Liverpool Philharmonic there is a creative case for diversity; a business case; and a social responsibility and moral case.

In particular, we are taking action to address diversity and equality with regard to

• Ethnic diversity
• Disability
• Gender
• Socio-economic disadvantage

Our Diversity Action Plan focusses on the following areas of our business:

• The Company (Board, administration, Orchestra and the wider sector)
• Our Artistic programme
• Our audiences and participants
• Our Communications externally and internally

We have identified a 10 year vision for what we want to achieve as an organisation in relation to diversity. This is a long term vision for change, but we will demonstrate clear and visible progress in the next 3 years. We also recognise that in areas like the Orchestra and repertoire diversification, we are part of a larger infrastructure and we need to work with others in the sector to effect meaningful and lasting change.

Our vision for diversity is core to how we achieve our goals and mission of becoming a truly international organisation rooted in Liverpool that enhances and transforms lives through music. We see this as a positive process, embracing the opportunities that diversity presents to us as an organisation.

We will achieve this vision through the efforts and commitment of the whole organisation, with the plan approved by the Board and overseen by a cross-organisational steering group including a Board champion and the Chief Executive.

Our vision? 

We are working to achieve the following: 

1. We will be a representative organisation, Board, staff, orchestra, ensembles, Youth Company– both in terms of how we reflect our local communities and how we bring the best in their fields to Liverpool
2. We will present an exciting and innovative programme that celebrates and reflects the diversity of the UK and the global music industry and inspires the next generation of musicians and audiences
3. We will have a strong leadership role in the sector, proactively supporting local diverse music organisations to grow and thrive, and also being a leader nationally and internationally in developing the diversity of our sector
4. We will develop and roll out an integrated approach to neighbourhood engagement, combining participation and learning, audience development, talent development and training/employability representing the breadth, depth and quality of Liverpool Philharmonic through community partnerships and residencies. These programmes will build on learning from In Harmony, LEAP into Live Music, talent development and employment schemes.
5. Our company will have an equal gender split and no gender pay gap and we will be meeting targets which mean that we at minimum reflect the percentage of the BAME population of the Liverpool City Region in our workforce and that we have significantly increased the percentage of our workforce who are disabled.
6. We will be programming events which in relation to their partners, their themes, or their lead artists, are equally split by gender; at least reflect the percentage of the BAME population of the Liverpool City Region and we will significantly increase representation of disabled people.
7. Our audience and learning participants will be at least reflect the percentage of the BAME population of the Liverpool City Region and will show significant growth in disabled audience members and participants.
8. We will make steady progress in all of these areas year on year within this ten year plan.
9. We will be monitoring and have good knowledge of the socio-economic makeup of our company and our audiences and participants .
10. Our Arts Council England ‘Creative Case for Diversity’ rating will be at least ‘Strong’

July 2020