Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
We aim to create a culture which effectively incorporates differences without eliminating them and in which people flourish individually and unite as a high performing team.
As a department of the University our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) strategy reflects the social inclusion strategy of the University of Warwick, which aims to remove the economic, social and cultural barriers that have prevented people from working, studying and succeeding.
Its objectives are as follows:
- Increase the diversity of the University of Warwick’s staff and students to maximise the creativity and innovation of its talent
- Develop a culture that supports students and staff in achieving their potential
- Become an internationally recognised leader in inclusion.
Our Ambition
Our ambition is to create a sense of inclusion and belonging for under-served communities through increasing equality of access, opportunity and participation, so that local artists and communities tell us we are relevant.
Creating a truly inclusive arts centre means going beyond programming, it’s about people, spaces, systems and culture. At Warwick Arts Centre, we’re committed to expanding equality of access through technology, training and collaboration, ensuring everyone feels welcome.
Our Progress
This year, we strengthened our partnership with Hereward College and DFN Project Search, delivering eight 10 month supported internships for young adults with learning disabilities and autism. These placements build confidence and transferable skills through structured coaching and real-world experience.
Staff participated in training sessions led by internal and external experts, fostering awareness, allyship and accountability. We also invested in our physical infrastructure, upgrading assisted listening systems and expanding our captioning and audio description in our all our venues to enable access to our offer to more people.
We're proud of the progress we've made, and we remain committed to creating an environment where audiences, artists and team members can thrive.
Case Study
Austin's Internship - Hereward College
Austin is a Hereward College student and art enthusiast who joined us on a supported internship. He began his internship in the Mead Gallery, later becoming a performance steward for live events. Over time, Austin took on leadership roles, guiding visitors and engaging with audiences. His journey reflects the power of inclusive opportunity:
“I’ve learnt not only so much about the arts, but I’ve also learnt about myself… how to get out there and make a difference while being me.”
Case Study
Frozen Light's The Ancient Oak of Baldor
Frozen Light create multi-sensory theatre for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities. To further support audiences, Warwick Arts Centre and Frozen Light collaborated to provide learning opportunities and experiences for staff. Through a combination of online and in person training, one member of the team directly interacting with audiences commented on how informative and helpful it was, and how they felt more confident in engaging with audiences: “
Before I took the training with Frozen Light, I wasn't aware of the term PMLD. I learned how we should greet guests with PMLD and their companions into the performance”.
Updated 24 February 2026
“We attended with our 6 year old autistic grandson who is non verbal…we were offered ear defenders and fidget toys and reassured that we could come back in to the theatre at any time. Staff were amazing and we can't thank them enough for helping us.”Audience Member
Our Commitments
Our Vision & Values
We believe the arts are a place we can all meet.
Environmental Sustainability
Sustainability is no longer a side note, it’s central to how we operate, create and connect. At Warwick Arts Centre, we’re embedding environmental responsibility…