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BAN Research: Beth Hughes on Working Class British Art
class identity: we are here to say that working-class culture is rich in its diversity. Its exploration is long over-due.
The first event was held in February 2021 and it was really designed to test the water and get the conversation going, I was blown away by the response. Following the event, I have had many fruitful conversations from those wanting to get involved, hear more, drive it forward. On a personal level this encouragement has been invaluable. One person even said to me ‘I’d stuff envelopes for this it is that important.’
The second event will take a different approach. We will be holding an open call for speakers who identify as coming from a working-class background to speak to a more universal theme, not directly about class itself. Artists can often be pigeon-holed into talking about a particular element of their identity when what is needed to balance the conversation is input from a broad range of people about all facets of modern life.
Social class isn’t straightforward. Debates rage on around how it the concept is applied, whether we live in a meritocracy and whether social mobility actually exists or is a myth that helps preserve the status quo. That the ways class-based discrimination operates in our arts organisations is rarely spoken about suggests that it benefits some to keep the conversation underdeveloped. To quote feminist sociologist, Prof. Beverley Skeggs: ‘class is a shorthand word for understanding power and inequality. Those with power claim class doesn’t exist, they have a natural right … It is our challenge to keep it on the agenda.’
