Black Lives Matter

By Suzy Willson and Paul Clark – Artistic Directors of Clod Ensemble

As white artists we are indebted to brilliant Black dancers, artists, theatre-makers, musicians, writers, thinkers, producers, educators and activists throughout history, who have informed our work and inspired us.

As white artistic directors of a publicly funded company, we acknowledge that the British economy, including the arts economy, is predicated on colonial history and slavery and that, as a company and as individuals, we have benefitted from systemic racism.

The current systems we operate in across the arts, health and education sectors urgently need to change in order to confront racial injustice.

We are committed to continually interrogating our own work practices – including how we work with freelancers, partner organizations, institutions and audiences – so that we can better understand and confront systemic racism.

We are working with our Board, our office team, our associate artists and our audiences to listen, learn, imagine, contextualise and action new ways of working, speaking, moving and being – in the hope that this profound pivotal moment across the planet will lead to lasting change and justice.

June 2020