Oscars 'will double women and minority members by 2020'

The Academy has promised to double the number of women and ethnic minority members. Credit: Reuters/Phil McCarten

Oscars organisers have pledged to double the number of members who are women and from ethnic minorities by 2020.

In a statement released on Twitter the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said it's board of governors "approved a sweeping series of substantive changes designed to make the Academy’s membership, its governing bodies, and its voting members significantly more diverse."

High-profile Hollywood stars including Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith and director Spike Lee said they were planning to boycott this year's ceremony because of the all-white list of nominees.

The Academy has also pledged to change the way new members are recruited, which is currently via sponsorship of current members, with a plan to "launch an ambitious, global campaign to identify and recruit qualified new members who represent greater diversity."

In addition the organisation has said that it will "immediately increase diversity on the Board of Governors," by establishing three new governor seats that will be nominated by the President for three-year terms and confirmed by the Board.