Art Council England (ACE) has announced a £4.6m (US$5.6m, €4.6m) Diversity scheme for the nation’s arts and culture sector.

Divided into two parts, the funding will be split between theatre and culture, with £2.6m (US$3.1m, €2.9m) going towards Museums and Galleries to increase diversity within the sector, and £2.1m to support the creation and touring of new plays by black and minority ethnic theatre makers.

The museum and gallery strand, dubbed Change Makers, will offer grants of between £100,000 (US$122,000, €112,000) and £150,000 (US$183,000, €167,900) to support 20 National Portfolio Organisations and Major Partner Museums to host training placements for disabled and minority ethnic leaders from across the country with bursaries.

Leading on projects, and supported by tailored development programmes, these Change Makers will gain the relevant experience, skills and confidence needed to compete for artistic director, chief executive or other senior leadership positions in the future.

“We’re committed to ensuring the diversity of England is better reflected at a leadership level across the arts and cultural sector,” said Abid Hussain ACE director for diversity.

“Through our Change Makers programme, these twenty disabled and black and minority ethnic leaders will have an inspiring and transformational opportunity to realise their leadership potential, giving them the confidence and the experience to take their next step into a senior leadership role, helping to shape the future of our sector.”

This latest investment brings the total amount of ACE investment into its diversity programmes for the year to £11.8m (US$14.4m, €13.2m) – a significant increase on the £8.5m (US$10.4m, €9.5m) invested in 2015.