Ramdeo, Janet ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2744-8572 and Nicholls, Stewart (2025) Enhancing racial representation in the curriculum: the case of performing arts programmes at a UK higher education institution. Innovations in Education and Teaching International (IETI), 63 (1). pp. 85-98. ISSN 1470-3297 (Print), 1470-3300 (Online) (doi:10.1080/14703297.2025.2459651)

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Abstract

It is well known that the performing arts industry lacks diversity and that training provision needs to reflect an increasingly racially diverse student body. How to enhance racial representation in performing arts curricula remains an area of conversation. Our university’s Inclusive Curriculum Framework, created and piloted in 2022/23, became the required tool to identify necessary changes to curriculum design, delivery and assessment in the School of Acting. Narrative inquiry was utilised to interview fifteen racially minoritised final year undergraduate and postgraduate students to understand curricula omissions through their training experiences. Findings illuminated learning experiences that lacked racial authenticity, perceived disadvantage in casting decisions and experiences of stereotyping and essentialising. However, their experiences could improve with more external diverse creatives contributing to their learning and developing staff’s racial awareness. Implementing the framework enabled the School of Acting’s staff to identify meaningful actions towards delivering inclusive and anti-racist pedagogies, practices and programmes.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	performing arts, racial representation, decolonising the curriculum, narrative inquiry, student voice, anti-racist pedagogies
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races L Education > L Education (General) L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2361 Curriculum
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Education (EDU)
Last Modified:	23 Jan 2026 15:28
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/52325

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