News

Arts and Minds, the coalition of national organisations representing the arts and education sectors has stepped up its campaign to restore the status of arts subjects in schools as it welcomes the Royal Shakespeare Company as its 50th member.

The campaign will host a sector event on Monday 27 April to debate “What’s next for arts in schools?” This follows the scrapping of the EBacc and other recent government announcements designed to boost the status of arts subjects.

Despite commitments to increasing enrichment, a new National Centre for Arts and Music Education and the National Youth Strategy, there are still obstacles to progress. Recent research from Arts and Minds found that only 7% of school leaders currently feel able to increase the amount of classroom time spent on arts subjects.*

The event will include a keynote speech from Michael Rosen and contributions from leading lights in the creative industry including Sally Bacon, CEO, Cultural Learning Alliance; James Clutton, CEO, Opera Holland Park; Jack Gamble, CEO, Campaign for the Arts; Polly Risbridger, CEO the Bright Foundation; Janine Irons, CEO, Tomorrow’s Warriors; Ed Harlow, president, NEU; Maria Ryan, creative learning producer, The Place; Paula Briggs, CEO, Access Art, and artist and campaigner Bob and Roberta Smith, OBE RA.

Jacqui O’Hanlon, deputy executive director (and director of creative learning) at the Royal Shakespeare Company will also be among the panellists. The Company recently became the 50th member of the Arts and Minds coalition joining organisations including the National Education Union, Equity, Musicians’ Union, Tomorrow’s Warriors and the English Folk Dance and Song Society. Arts and Minds Arts Ambassadors include Steve Coogan, Arlene Phillips and the Kanneh-Mason family.

The RSC is well placed to share its expertise in enrichment through the arts. Its Creative Learning and Engagement team works with over 1,000 schools, 2,000 teachers and reaches more than 500,000 young people each year.  Jacqui O’Hanlon comments, “This year the RSC celebrates 20 years of working in deep partnership with schools across the country, using Shakespeare’s plays and our award-winning teaching approaches to unlock potential and improve life and learning outcomes for children and young people.  We are delighted to be joining the Arts and Minds coalition and look forward to an inspirational day focused on ensuring that every child, regardless of which school they go to or where they live, is given equal access to high quality arts learning provision.”

The “What’s next for arts in schools?” event will be chaired by Sally Bacon, co-chair, Cultural Learning Alliance. She comments, “Following the Curriculum and Assessment Review there is real momentum behind revitalising the status of arts subjects in schools, so the time is right to come together to discuss how we can bridge the gap between government ambition and the obstacles faced by schools. We’re looking forward to hearing a range of voices — including those of young people — from across the arts, creative industries, education and civil society.”