AS THE ARTS IS PUSHED OUT OF THE CLASSROOM, LEEDS HOSTS ROYAL SOCIETY DEBATE

It is a £70 billion industry employing thousands of people.   But the arts is now struggling to secure even the smallest corner of the classroom, with 90 per cent of the teaching profession worried the situation will seriously affect a child’s ability to think creatively.

The debate is now bring brought to Leeds as part of the Royal Society of Arts 250 th anniversary programme to coincide with the start of Big Arts Week - a nationwide scheme that matches artists who are prepared to devote time to work on a project with a local school.

And as panel member Ashley Jackson says, it is time to get away from the air of pretentiousness that so often shrouds the arts world:

"For far too long the pseudo-intellectuals have hijacked the arts, stopping people going into national municipal art galleries.   A pile of dung is a pile of dung and we must get back to recognising and appreciating the skills needed in art.”

The renowned Yorkshire landscape artist – who counts former US President Bill Clinton among his fans - adds:

“This is partly why schools and colleges have struggled   - it's become a game of tiddly winks, knocking the arts down the agenda rather than raising it up.”

Jackson will be joined on the panel by “Emmerdale” scriptwriter Lisa Holdsworth; Anna Bowman, head of education at Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the event chairman, Phil Simmons of Yorkshire’s Arts Circus.

The debate will look at the need for arts-in-education initiatives such as Big Arts Week, ask what are the consequences of the arts being pushed out of the curriculum and examine how that will effect Britain’s tradition as one of the world’s leading cultural capitals.

Arts Pushed Out will take place at the Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds on

June 22.

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June 7, 2004

Press enquiries to David Leck at TimeBank on 01322 528580/07710 326256.

For further information on Big Arts Week 2004 visit www.bigartsweek.com