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As your editorial (The Guardian view on arts education: a creativity crisis, 7 February) made clear, the creative arts are a cultural, social and economic success story for the UK, and yet they have been under attack for more than a decade. The essential contribution that the arts make to the health, wealth and wellbeing of the UK is clear, well documented and tangible, but this government continues to sabotage and harm our national interests with a myopic approach to education and cultural investment. Now, scientific and technical innovations are hailed as the key to economic growth with the creation of a new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology last week, while the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has been “refocused” and reduced. The “arts premium” funding promised in 2020 did not materialise, we have a national curriculum that is unfit for purpose and we are still waiting for a cultural education plan.
Why is there such a harmful disconnect between education policy and economic and civic needs? With a 40% fall in GCSE arts entries since 2010, how exactly does the government intend to secure the talent pipeline into our vital creative industries? Arts subjects are disappearing from the curriculum in England at a frightening rate, and we should all be alarmed. The damage goes far beyond the economic; it requires a long-term coherent plan and investment in creative arts education. We know that governments often struggle to value what they can’t easily measure. This government appears to be incapable of valuing even the things that it can.
Michele Gregson
CEO, National Society for Education in Art and Design
The widening arts deprivation gap between the most disadvantaged children and their more affluent peers, highlighted in your editorial, should be a cause of great concern. Creative expression has a fundamental impact on children’s communication skills, wellbeing and confidence, as well as raising aspirations. Squeezing arts out of the core curriculum at a time when many families are struggling to afford heating bills, let alone enriching extracurricular activities, will damage the future prospects of today’s children.
Our experience of running the world’s largest youth drama festival shows us that arts opportunities provided through schools can be life-changing. Teachers often tell us that participation in the festival impacts children’s entire education, with improvements in literacy, school attendance, behaviour and motivation. But the real power of the arts resonates over a child’s lifetime. These children will become better problem solvers, critical thinkers and leaders – things we need more than ever.
Mike Tucker
Head, Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation
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