IGNORING A £70 MILLION INDUSTRY IS RESTRICTING

CREATIVITY IN OUR CHILDREN

March 2, 2004

It is hard to imagine that any industry worth almost £70 million to the annual economy should find itself battling to secure even the smallest corner of the school classroom.

But as teachers face increasing pressure and lack of resources 90 per cent of the profession think the arts is being squeezed out of the curriculum to a point where it will affect a child’s ability to think creatively – an ability vital to a whole range of careers and vocations.

The findings come from volunteering charity TimeBank and are a result of research among teachers who took part in last year’s Big Arts Week – a nationwide scheme that places artists who are prepared to devote some time in schools to work on a project during a week each June.

Launched in 2002, Big Arts Week has already proved to be a huge success.   In its first two years some 3,000 professional artists have gone into 5,000 schools to work with over 100,000 children.   If the scheme is to continue growing, many more artists are needed to match the increasing demand from the teaching profession.

And as TimeBank chief executive Moira Swinbank explains, it is essential that the demand is met in order help teachers deliver memorable creative experiences:

“ Big Arts Week has been a victim of its own success.   The demand from schools for support to help students enjoy an artistic project has been overwhelming.   Our research shows children are being starved of opportunities that will be of an enormous benefit to them in adult life.   And while teachers obviously value the importance of the arts, the time available within the curriculum is getting tighter year-on-year.”

The findings conducted among 700 teachers also shows that two thirds (66 per cent) think the current situation will be detrimental to the creative fabric of the country and 40 per cent think it will result in fewer artists in future generations.

And a new study by TimeBank of 2272 children aged between five and 16 confirms that limited exposure to the arts is affecting understanding of the

wide-ranging nature of the creative industries.

Asked “what is art?” , almost 30 per cent thought it was either drawing or painting.   Disciplines such as sculpture and dance hardly recorded any recognition, while acting, architecture, music and theatre didn’t appear on the list at all. Knowledge of modern artists was also low with the majority of children, 35% naming Van Gogh and 14% Picasso when asked to name a famous artist.

On a more positive note when asked what they wanted to be when they grew up, the arts f eatured significantly.   One in 10 children wanted to be an artist compared with the 11 per cent who said footballer and the nine per cent who wanted a veterinary career.

However, a study by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) last year found on average, only 65 minutes a week was being spent on Art in schools , which begs the question how many of these budding young artists will actually fulfil their ambit ion?

Fashion and design guru Wayne Hemmingway who took part in Big Arts Week in 2003 , is urging artists to help inspire the next creative generation:

“Seeing kids being naturally creative and working together is a very uplifting and rewarding experience.   I have four children of my own but gained so much from the schools visits I took part in last year.

“It is these opportunities for which Big Arts Week was set-up and we have to make sure that we match the thousands of schools and students who want to work with a professional artist - even if it is only for one day this June.”

Big Arts Week 2004 runs from June 21 to 25 and it comes with an impressive list of patrons and celebrity supporters, including Harry Enfield, Julian Lloyd Webber, Helena Bonham Carter, Frederick Forsyth, Kathy Lette and Prunella Scales.

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

To volunteer as an artist or register as a school email info@bigartsweek.com or call 020 7654 0023.

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For more press information, please contact:

David Leck on 01322 528580/07710 326256/ dla.mail@virgin.net