Tackling diversity in children’s arts: what we’ve learned in a year
Tara Lopez identifies three key themes that have emerged so far from the four-year Vital Spark initiative.
Posts
‘They let us pick any artist in the world’: the freedom to create relatable theatre
The Contact Young Curators programme gave Wez Thistlethwaite the opportunity to re-engage his creative muscles by co-curating a wo…
Austerity is undermining children’s access to culture, finds research
An LSE researcher said children’s development is being thwarted by Government policy, but argued the situation could be impr…
Government should fund young creatives to build diversity, says report
Many BAME young people interviewed felt that “drama and acting was more for white people and that music was more for Black p…
Four ways the Durham Commission can create a lasting legacy
As the Commission gets ready to publish its recommendations on creativity and education, Joe Hallgarten puts forward four ideas he…
Watchdog questions trustworthiness of DfE statistics
The UK Statistics Authority has called for greater clarity in the way the Department presents statistics, after investigating conc…
Standing out from the crowd
Many young people dream about breaking into the performing arts industry, but without some work experience it can be almost imposs…
Giving youth a voice
Engaging with young people is a sound investment in future audiences, says Annabel Thomas – provided you are clear about why…
Children from deprived areas shut out of music qualifications
Research finds that “large geographical areas are completely without music provision at A level”.
No let-up in arts A level decline
Early figures suggest that the trend away from studying some arts subjects at GCSE may be bottoming out, but A level entries conti…
Russell Group scraps A Level subject guidance
The move by the elite university group has led to renewed calls to reconsider the controversial EBacc performance measure.
Join the club
Adam Szabo shares seven principles that have helped Manchester Collective attract younger audiences to its classical concerts.
Access to entry-level roles
Many entry-level roles in the arts are taken by overqualified graduates, but a project in Wales is opening up opportunities to tho…
Change education policy to save arts in schools, say MPs
A new report demands a “clear explanation” from DCMS and the Department for Education on why they have dismissed evide…
Dancing to a new tune
A programme in Stockton-on-Tees has helped young people excluded from mainstream schools learn new skills, develop self-worth and…
Time to walk the talk
Frustrated with the decline of arts and creative subjects in schools, Nick Corston gave up his day job to form a not-for-profit en…
The arts in a backpack
An Action for Children’s Arts study recommends that every child at primary school should have five quality arts experiences…
4 in 10 arts workers who leave sector cite caring responsibilities
Researchers say parents and carers are being “pushed out” of arts careers due to low wages and a lack of job security.
Making the tea or changing the game?
Anne Torreggiani explains why participating in an EU-funded Erasmus programme has prompted her to re-evaluate the ability of inter…
Finding a voice
As composition becomes increasingly sidelined in school music, Natalie Watson discusses a mentoring scheme providing professional…
Crafting their next steps
Katy Sadler explains how a festival in one of Birmingham’s busiest thoroughfares enables craft and design graduates to test…
A year of exploration
Amy Lawrence outlines the wide-ranging benefits arising from her Jerwood Creative Fellowship at Manchester International Festival.
Inspiring tomorrow’s classical composers
Contemporary classical music aligns naturally with children's playful approach to sound, says Nancy Evans.
Five projects to lead £5m performing arts skills programme
Croydon, Plymouth, Derby, Salford and Medway are to share government funding to teach children on- and off-stage skills to improve…
