Cultural players help shape Montréal’s game-changing equity index

The Purpose

In alignment with the City of Montréal’s broader initiatives to combat racism, and discrimination, and promote Indigenous reconciliation, significant policies and actions were introduced in Montréal’s cultural sector. This included a recommendation from the ‘Report of the Consultation on Systemic Racism and Discrimination’ to provide subsidies to organisations demonstrating a commitment to including Indigenous and individuals from diverse backgrounds in their programs, as well as increasing diversity within their staff and board of directors.

The Challenge

The challenge was to create a tool that would provide an accurate dataset and a comprehensive understanding of the current diversity, equity and inclusion efforts being implemented by cultural organisations in Montréal.

The primary objective of the index was to obtain an accurate dataset on the existing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within Montreal’s cultural sector. 

The Solution

To determine which organisations would meet these new criteria, the City conducted a thorough assessment of the diversity initiatives undertaken by cultural organisations and festivals in the city.

Starting in 2020, the Cinema-Festivals-Events Department (DCFE), in collaboration with Zarda Créations, initiated a program aimed at developing a diversity index for Montréal’s cultural sector. Twelve cultural organisations volunteered to participate in the pilot program for the index and engaged in a series of trainings and workshops that contributed to the tool’s development.

The primary objective of this effort was to obtain an accurate dataset on the existing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within Montréal’s cultural sector. The goal was to create a tool that would effectively identify areas for improvement, enhance transparency and accountability, and encourage a culture of continuous improvement.

The “Indice d’équité (IDÉ)” (Diversity and Equity Index tool) is funded by the Support Program for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (PSDEC) and the Support Program for Festivals and Cultural Events (PSFEC). It was launched in 2022 with festivals and events funded by these two programs. In 2023, the index was incorporated into the reports of all festivals and events financed by the DCFE. The programme is overseen by an advisory committee comprising representatives from the Diversity and Social Inclusion Department, the Economic Development Department, and the Culture Department.

The index tool covers various aspects, including representation, awareness (internal policy and staff training), communication (promotion of projects and programming, language use, imagery), recruitment, and impact measures. A community of practice related to diversity is also being formed.

The Impact

In 2023, the index was integrated into the reports of all festivals and events funded by the DCFE. Anticipated challenges include raising awareness about the index tool within the cultural sector and the difficulties that cultural organisations may face in simultaneously managing COVID-19 recovery and implementing systemic internal changes.

Source: World Cities Culture Report 2022

Images Courtesy © Getty/Canva