Seven Agents of Change, Global Majority theatre professionals, are taking part in an action research project to explore and research their ideas to create equal opportunities and support leadership progression for Global Majority arts professionals.

Amina Atiq is a Yemeni-British poet, performance artist, creative-educational practitioner, and award-winning community activist.  She will be researching how the UK’s creative sector responded post BLM and lockdown; with a focus on companies who initiated anti-racism advisory boards.

Grace Ng is currently the Artist Development and Access Producer at The Lowry, and previously Administrator for Artist Development at the Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester. Her project will be exploring a model of professional development that combines nurturing artistic and cultural leadership with entrepreneurship, that is bespoke for those from the global majority who are ready for this next stage of career development.

Harris Albar is currently the Assistant Producer at Gate Theatre, a freelance producer and director, and the proud co-founder of Scratching Collective, a company made by and for emerging artists.  Harris intends to use their time on the ADF programme to interrogate the Hostile Environment in the UK’s theatre industry and its impacts on pathways to artistic leadership for Migrant practitioners.

Maya Wilson is a Creative Producer based in South East London, and is currently working as Assistant Producer at ETT. Her project will create a theatrical think tank for social change – one that harnesses the minds and creativity of theatre professionals to influence government policy and create a more equitable future for Global Majority people and artists.

Natalie Chan is a producer and fundraiser from Hong Kong. She’s previously been General Manager for Creative Youth; the Associate Producer for the Bread and Roses Theatre, and Assistant Producer for Theatre503, Spun Glass Theatre and Arch468. She is also a board member for Young Arts Fundraisers.  Her project will be exploring models of mentorship – group and peer to peer – for mid-career Global Majority professionals.

Nick Ishmael-Perkins is the Artistic Director of Wretched Theatre, a small company working with migrant artists and featuring multicultural collaborative practice.  He will be researching the enabling environment for diversity by exploring funding of institutions, artists and productions, examining what modalities of funding would deliver the biggest impact in diversifying artistic participation and audiences across the UK.

Sara Dos Santos is currently the Senior Policy Advisor at the Greater London Authority and the former Artistic Director of East London Youth Dance Company.  Her project will investigate current barriers for Global Majority professionals within the cultural and creative workforce, with the aim to interrogate solutions for sustainable and inclusive working practices.

The programme is funded by Arts Council England: Elevate, Garfield Weston Foundation and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.