We are not all the same

Accessible and equitable recruitment practices

Curating for Change, the ground-breaking work placement programme for D/deaf and disabled curators in museums, is calling for the heritage sector to change recruitment practice with their action plan We Are Not All the Same.

The plan addresses the most cited reason for D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people not making progress in museum careers – inaccessible recruitment practices and unnecessary requirements in role descriptions.

It evolved from the recruitment experiences of 20 museum partners – independent, local authority, national and university organisations – in appointing eight 18-month Fellowships and eight 40-day trainees as part of Curating for Change, a 3-year National Lottery Heritage Funded project to create strong career pathways for d/Deaf, disabled and neurodiverse curators in museums.

Tackling this recruitment problem – where only 4% of museum workers identify as D/deaf and disabled – will enable a more  diverse work force – essential for museums to remain relevant to their communities.

Schemes such as Disability Confident, and equal opportunities policies are not always giving disabled people a fair chance and often miss the point of equality suggests Esther Fox, Head of Accentuate and Curating for Change: “You may have to treat people differently in order for them to compete equally. This is recognised in employment law and often falls under what is termed “reasonable adjustments”.

How can organisations make a change?

The action plan, We Are Not All The Same, provides practical and achievable steps to invite a wider diversity of applicants.

In addition, a series of short presentations and panel discussions on the Curating for Change website includes helpful testimonies from museum partners who have participated in change within their own organisations, as well as the people whose lives have changed by successfully securing a role in the museum sector.

Karl Mercer, Curating for Change Trainee, Colchester and Ipswich Museums says “The video application allowed me to show how I’m different, what I can offer, and the value I can offer to the sector. My life experience doesn’t look good on paper, that’s a fact. If it was a paper application I probably wouldn’t be here today.”

Click here to download the action plan>>

Join the Curating for Change Team for a free Hallmark at Home session on how you can encourage more equitable recruitment practice within your organisation. Online, 11am Wednesday 8 March. Click here to book your place>>