Athena SWAN

Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts is committed to work towards the advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for all.

In April 2017 we began working towards a Bronze Athena SWAN Award, looking to endorse and enhance the culture of equality, diversity and inclusion that LICA aspires to achieve for all students and staff. We submitted for the Bronze Award in November 2018 which was conferred in April 2019.

You can read LICA’s Bronze Award submission here: [Bronze Award link]

Race Equality Charter

Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts is committed to improving the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students within higher education.

In April 2017, the university signed up to the Race Equality Charter (REC) to help improve the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students at Lancaster. The Race Equality Charter (REC) aims to improve the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students within higher education. In 2024 the university was awarded the Race Equality Charter (REC) Bronze Award.

LGBTQIA+ Support

Our department is home to a diverse community of staff and students who identify as being part of the LQBTQIA+

Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts is committed to supporting students and colleagues who face additional challenges in their lives caused by their gender identity or sexual orientation. Our department is proud to be part of the University-wide ‘Safe Home Base’ LGBTQIA+ Ally Network. We have several staff volunteers who act as Allies, who can be approached by staff or colleagues for guidance or help, and can act as active listeners to LGBTQIA+ students and staff’s experiences.

LICA’s staff Allies are as follows:

• Dr Naomi Jacobs
• Beth Peat

Decolonising LICA Group

The Decolonising LICA Group (DLG) is a safe space for all LICA staff and students to come together to discuss issues of decolonisation as it relates to our teaching, research and organisational culture within the department.

Throughout the year, the group meets either in-person or online to talk about different topics related to decolonisation. We may ask people to read or watch something beforehand, listen to a guest speaker or show up to have a chat about something they've seen in the news.

The group is also keen to supplement these discussions by actively making positive changes to students' and staff members' lives in terms of decolonisation in relation to teaching, research and culture.

DLG is currently led by Dr Laura Miller, Dr Chris Boyko and Dr Naomi Jacobs.

LICA's Decolonising allies include Damla Campion and Juan Montalvan Lume (Student Reps).

Inclusive Learning and Support Plans (ILSPs) 

In an effort to more actively support LICA Undergraduate students who have Inclusive Learning and Support Plans (ILSPs), the LICA EDI Committee wrote a general policy for the department in the 2023/24 academic year. This policy was then implemented in bespoke ways for each of the five sections: Architecture, Design, Film, Fine Art and Theatre.

At the end of the academic year, the LICA EDI Committee evaluated the effectiveness of those policies. They did this by surveying LICA students and staff involved in teaching, and interviewing Administrative staff involved in supporting teaching. The results of the surveys and interviews may be found in the two reports in this section, and includes actions to take to improve the experiences of students' with ILSPs within the department.

Click to download the LICA 'ILSP Staff Survey Report' and the 'ILSP Student Survey Report'.