UK Visual Arts Workforce Dominated by Privileged Backgrounds, Study Reveals

Heather Carey’s report for the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre highlights stark class disparities in the UK's creative sector. Among creative professions, only 12% of visual arts workers hail from working-class backgrounds, marking the lowest representation. Overall, 16% of those in creative roles come from such families, with film at 16%, advertising and marketing at 15%, architecture at 12%, and publishing at 13%. Music and performance also show a 12% working-class presence. In contrast, a substantial 52% of creative workers are from wealthy families, compared to 37% across all UK jobs. Carey stresses the need for collaboration among industry leaders and the government to improve inclusivity and address these issues, exacerbated by COVID-19.