“Creative Access, the UK’s leading inclusivity organisation in the creative industries, defines underserved communities as a population proven to be under-represented in the sector.” reports Derry Now.

“The UK’s creative industries face mounting challenges in retaining talent as rising living costs, uneven career progression and rapid technological change reshape the sector, according to Creative Access’ 2026 “Thrive” report,” reports US-based publication, Señal News.

“Two thirds of creatives from under-represented backgrounds have considered leaving the sector… [as] diversity and inclusion is “at risk of being undone”. Mel Rodrigues, chief executive of Creative Access, the social enterprise behind the research, called the findings a “wake-up call”,” reports Jim Evans at Light & Sound International.

“The UK creative industry is risking a mass exodus of talent, especially among the under-represented diverse and working class groups that the sector has worked hard to attract, with more than four in five creatives suffering from economic strain in the past year and two-thirds saying they have considered leaving the industry altogether.” Read the […]

“The publishing industry has reported the lowest uptake of AI usage at only 6%, reflecting ongoing concerns around copyright and authorship, the Creative Access 2026 Thrive report has revealed,” reports Heather Gosling at The Bookseller.

Televisual’s Pippa Considine covers the Creative Access 2026 Thrive report, ‘Progress under pressure’: “The 2026 Thrive report calls for renewed focus on retention, equitable access to training (particularly in AI), and sustained investment in inclusive career development pathways. While challenges remain significant, the findings also illuminate a clear opportunity: to move from fragmented progress to […]

Creative workers from under-represented backgrounds under strain, reports Theo Bosanquet at Arts Professional. “People from under-represented backgrounds in the UK’s creative industries are experiencing “increasing pressure” from rising living costs, technological change and uneven access to opportunity, a Creative Access (CA) report has found.“ “We’ve spent years working together to open doors for talented people from under-represented backgrounds, but […]

“New research from diversity and inclusion social enterprise Creative Access reveals ‘mounting financial pressure threatens the progression and retention of under-represented creative talent in the publishing sector.” Read BookBrunch’s article, ‘Cash pressures blunting diversity drive’.

“Two thirds of creatives from under-represented backgrounds have considered leaving the sector according to a report that warns that recent progress towards diversity and inclusion is ‘at risk of being undone’”, reports Hattie Fisk at The Stage.

“The UK creative industries are operating under increasing pressure, with rising living costs, rapid technological change and uneven access to opportunity reshaping how people enter, progress and remain in the sector, according to the latest Thrive report from Creative Access,” reports LBB’s Cathy Meyer-Funnell with comments from comms and marketing manager, Sidra Faridi.

Key findings at a glance:  The UK creative industries are operating under increasing pressure, with rising living costs, rapid technological change and uneven access to opportunity reshaping how people enter, progress and remain in the sector, according to the latest Thrive report from Creative Access.  Titled ‘Progress under pressure’, the 2026 report shows an industry still evolving, but progress is disproportionately distributed and heavily dependent on access to support, networks and sustained investment.  Drawing […]

“The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is investing £7 million into a scheme aimed at widening access to the creative industries,” reports Arts Professional.