Performing arts bodies sign up to 50/50 by 2020 gender equality campaign
Scotland's five national performing arts companies have all pledged that half their board members will be women by 2020.
Scotland's five national performing arts companies have all pledged that half their board members will be women by 2020.
Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (RCO), the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) and the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) have all signed up to the Scottish Government's drive to help tackle the issue of gender inequality, which was launched exactly one year ago.
A total of 185 companies, public bodies and voluntary sector organisations have joined the 50/50 by 2020 campaign.
Equalities Secretary Angela Constance took to the stage at the Kings Theatre in Edinburgh with performers to announce the arts bodies had become the latest members.
She said: "By signing up to our 50/50 by 2020 pledge, Scotland's national performing companies are recognising the need for true gender equality, and are helping us shatter the glass ceiling once and for all.
"Last year for the first time, more women than men were appointed to public boards in Scotland - this cannot be a one-off. Our new Gender Balance on Public Boards Bill will look to readdress gender imbalances and build on the great progress we have made so far.
"I would encourage all organisations to consider the benefits of gender balance as it's clear to me that companies with a more modern, progressive and open-minded approach will be the ones that outperform their rivals as they are making the best use of all the talents at their fingertips."
RSNO chief executive Krishna Thiagarajan said the organisation already had "a close-to 50/50 gender split amongst its musicians, administrative staff and board of directors, simply through a process of identifying the valuable members the organisation requires to deliver positive results".
He added: "Throughout its history the RSNO has been a trailblazer in this regard, recruiting women to important positions as early as the 1930s."
Alex Reedijk, Scottish Opera's general director, said the company is "determined" to meet the campaign objective and added: "We are already moving towards addressing the gender balance in leadership by recommending for appointment two further female board members later this year."
Meanwhile, Gavin Reid, SCO chief executive, said: "As an orchestra passionately committed to openness, equality and the enrichment of lives through music, we are committed to working towards a gender balance on our governing body, thus meeting the 50/50 campaign objective.
"Equality informs everything we do and it is appropriate we reflect this at the highest level."
Christopher Hampson, Scottish Ballet's CEO/artistic director, said it already benefited from having females make up half of its board, stating: "This gender diversity adds yet another positive element to the wide breadth of experience that our board members possess, ensuring that Scottish Ballet's governance is both robust and balanced."
And Dame Seona Reid, the chair of the NTS, said: "I very much welcome the 50/50 by 2020 initiative and congratulate the Scottish Government on its first year anniversary.
"The National Theatre of Scotland is firmly committed to gender equality on boards, and we are proud to be nearly there already.
"We will continue to strive for further improvements in the diversity of our board directors. I believe firmly that diversity within board membership leads to significantly enhanced decision-making and quality of debate."