19,855 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 4, 2016 22:51:49 GMT
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Post by oxfordsimon on Feb 4, 2016 23:38:31 GMT
That was my first reaction - whether justified or not, that is what I immediately thought
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Post by Jan on Feb 5, 2016 7:20:44 GMT
That was my first reaction - whether justified or not, that is what I immediately thought Well, my first thought was Populism. Then Tokenism. But the fact is he's a far more suitable person to have on the NT Board than a majority of the others who are on it. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2016 7:45:00 GMT
I suppose only time will tell if, between them, they can actually do something to improve the situation. But I would hope the decision was made by both sides on the basis that 1) Henry knows what he's talking about and 2) the NT are serious about diversity.
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Post by Jan on Feb 5, 2016 8:40:42 GMT
I suppose only time will tell if, between them, they can actually do something to improve the situation. But I would hope the decision was made by both sides on the basis that 1) Henry knows what he's talking about and 2) the NT are serious about diversity. Oh the NT are achingly serious about diversity, don't worry about that. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2016 9:01:26 GMT
It's pretty appalling when someone who isn't a white male gets a job and the first reaction is 'tokenism'. The NT wants to be more diverse; Lenny Henry has been a leading voice about diversity in the arts. It seems like an obvious decision.
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Post by jaqs on Feb 5, 2016 9:42:32 GMT
He's had a massive career from holiday entertainer to hollywood, surely he's more than qualified.
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Post by Jan on Feb 5, 2016 10:03:17 GMT
It's pretty appalling when someone who isn't a white male gets a job and the first reaction is 'tokenism'. The NT wants to be more diverse; Lenny Henry has been a leading voice about diversity in the arts. It seems like an obvious decision. Well the tokenism reaction isn't directed at Lenny Henry at all but rather at the NT Board, let's take a quick look at that diverse and multi-talented bunch shall we ? Board members John Makinson (Chairman) Kate Mosse (Deputy Chair) Peter Bennett-Jones Dame Ursula Brennan Dominic Casserley Tim Clark Lloyd Dorfman CBE Glenn Earle Farah Ramzan Golant CBE Ros Haigh Elizabeth Offord Alan Rusbridger Clive Sherling Couldn't accuse that lot of not being diverse eh ? Some of them went to Oxford and some of them went to Cambridge. Drawn from a very wide range of companies too: Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, Price Waterhouse, Apax Partners. And (give me strength) Alan Rusbridger. Didn't realise Dorfman was on it - obviously places go to the highest bidder. |
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Post by Jan on Feb 5, 2016 10:11:22 GMT
It rather sums up the whole issue, for me. Why would anybody who is highly experienced in their field wish to try and take on more responsibility within it, if they know that by being willing to do so the first thing that is looked at isn't their experience... The charge of tokenism by the NT board would be harder to make if one of the white middle-aged middle-class men currently stuffing the board places had stepped down to make way for Lenny Henry. Ideally Alan Rusbridger. I'm fine with Henry being on the board and would be even happier if at least 6 of the current members were off it and replaced with their exact opposite. It also seems somewhat condescending to have specifically announced he would be focussing on diversity issues rather than just being another experienced board member who can contribute in all areas. Remember Henry is not just the only black man on the board but the only actor on it too. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Feb 5, 2016 10:18:55 GMT
It's pretty appalling when someone who isn't a white male gets a job and the first reaction is 'tokenism'. The NT wants to be more diverse; Lenny Henry has been a leading voice about diversity in the arts. It seems like an obvious decision. This is where I have to take issue with Lenny Henry. A number of years ago, he created a BBC sitcom - Chef. And did he use that to bring in a very diverse cast? No. When given the opportunity, he created a nearly all-white show. He may talk the talk, but he hasn't always walked the walk. |
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Post by Jan on Feb 5, 2016 10:24:32 GMT
It's pretty appalling when someone who isn't a white male gets a job and the first reaction is 'tokenism'. The NT wants to be more diverse; Lenny Henry has been a leading voice about diversity in the arts. It seems like an obvious decision. This is where I have to take issue with Lenny Henry. A number of years ago, he created a BBC sitcom - Chef. And did he use that to bring in a very diverse cast? No. When given the opportunity, he created a nearly all-white show. He may talk the talk, but he hasn't always walked the walk. Bit harsh. I'm pretty sure if he had created a nearly all-black show it wouldn't have got commissioned. By his own admission he's had to work within the existing system for much of his career just to earn a living, starting with his appearances on the Black and White Minstrel show. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2016 10:35:26 GMT
It's pretty appalling when someone who isn't a white male gets a job and the first reaction is 'tokenism'. The NT wants to be more diverse; Lenny Henry has been a leading voice about diversity in the arts. It seems like an obvious decision. This is where I have to take issue with Lenny Henry. A number of years ago, he created a BBC sitcom - Chef. And did he use that to bring in a very diverse cast? No. When given the opportunity, he created a nearly all-white show. He may talk the talk, but he hasn't always walked the walk. Also it was 20 years ago - people's awareness and opinions can evolve. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2016 10:41:45 GMT
PS - could not agree more about Kate Mosse on the board - how the hell did that happen?? I was at an NT platform about one of their Shakespeares (might have been Hamlet) when she interviewed Hytner and he didn't try very hard to hide his contempt for her stupid questions. Was quite amusing!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2016 10:54:59 GMT
Perhaps someone better informed than me on contemporary corporate governance could confirm or expand, but my understanding is that it's recommended to appoint a lead board member, who is qualified and/or experienced, for the oversight of each aspect of the organisation. If, for example, equality and diversity issues are just left to the board as a whole, it's much less likely that it will be as effective and rigorous in reviewing the organisation's policies and reporting on how they are being implemented.
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923 posts
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Post by Snciole on Feb 5, 2016 11:48:15 GMT
Has he been a trustee elsewhere? It does seem a bit odd to have all these randoms, skilled (debatable) in their field and then for the one BME to have to had all these experience in actual performance. Where are the black or Asian Alan Rusbridgers or Dorfmans who want to be part of such a board.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2016 11:58:42 GMT
Perhaps he's been selected because the NT can get a cheap deal if they need to stay over or hold a meeting at a Premier Inn?
There's a lot of them all over the UK. Very convenient.
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587 posts
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Post by Polly1 on Feb 5, 2016 12:00:42 GMT
Perhaps he's been selected because the NT can get a cheap deal if they need to stay over or hold a meeting at a Premier Inn? There's a lot of them all over the UK. Very convenient.  One right next door to the NT, in fact! |
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Post by Jan on Feb 5, 2016 12:16:59 GMT
Perhaps he's been selected because the NT can get a cheap deal if they need to stay over or hold a meeting at a Premier Inn? There's a lot of them all over the UK. Very convenient. No I'm sure several on the board are keen to get back to their second homes in the Cotswolds after the meetings so they don't stay over - Rusbridger can give them a lift. |
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Post by alece10 on Feb 5, 2016 12:24:28 GMT
Perhaps he's been selected because the NT can get a cheap deal if they need to stay over or hold a meeting at a Premier Inn? There's a lot of them all over the UK. Very convenient. One right next door to the NT, in fact! Never seen the appeal of that hotel chain to be honest. Rooms dont seem very private especially that one in Kings Cross where the bed is in the middle of the concourse. What if you need a wee in the middle of the night? |
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19,855 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 5, 2016 13:47:15 GMT
I think the first thing that jumped to mind for me was why Lenny Henry? The vast majority of his career has been as a not very funny comic who, when that career started to fade, jumped into the charity bandwagon and bagged a knighthood out of it (remind you of anyone? cough*Geldof*cough*). He's inly been in "legit" theatre for 5 minutes and I have no idea whether he's good, bad or mediocre but I bet there are many respected actors of all ethnicities wondering "why Lenny?" too.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2016 14:11:46 GMT
Don't you usually have to apply to be a trustee? Or can you just be asked as well? I often see ads around for them, so I just assumed some sort of formal application process was in place. (There certainly is at my organisation. And if we're looking to develop a certain aspect of the organisation, then we'll look specifically for a certain kind of qualified candidate.)
If all that is also true for the NT, then surely only others who applied for Henry's post and didn't get it are entitled to feel aggrieved in any way? As with any other job application, diversity related or not...
Shouldn't we all be being a bit more supportive of this move? If we care about diversity in the arts (as quite a few of us seem to, judging by previous forum conversations), surely this formal recognition of their responsibilities by the NT can only be a good thing?
Improving BME representation within writing, acting, directing, crew etc shouldn't just be Henry's responsibility, of course - but one would hope they've chosen him because he has the necessary interest, drive and ideas to make change happen. As well as knowing what sort of supposedly 'helpful ideas' will go down like a lead balloon with the target 'audience' - you know, like the people who created pink pens 'for women' didn't. Or the coding course 'aimed at women' that talked about hairdryers a lot... Sigh.
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5,716 posts
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Post by lynette on Feb 5, 2016 22:35:03 GMT
He acted at the NT in Comedy of Errors so perhaps he made a few contacts at that time. I think if a guy wants to do the job then let him and I don't think he is the sort of person to be a token ethnic, is he? Often it is these not quite brilliant people who work at making a difference. You can say Geldof wasn't much of a pop star but he was certainly a mega fund raiser or awareness raiser.
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One right next door to the NT, in fact!
