Women in UK arts feel they do not have equal opportunities for roles, says report

Actor Maureen Beattie, who recently played Shakespeare's Lear in a production in Pitlochry, said she was not surprised by the findings. Actor Maureen Beattie, who recently played Shakespeare's Lear in a production in Pitlochry, said she was not surprised by the findings. Women working in the arts believe they do not have equal opportunities for roles, especially as they get older, according to a report saying that the industry is fixated with "young and emerging" talent. Nearly all (95%) women working in the arts thought gender inequality persisted, while three-quarters (75%) reported experiencing unconscious bias or sexism, according to a survey of 76 arts professionals. More than two-thirds (69%) felt that age negatively affected their career success - a figure that rose to 100% among those working in artistic rather than managerial roles.