FUNDING BOOST FOR CREATIVITY IN WELSH SCHOOLS LEADS TO CALL FOR MORE ARTISTS

April 6, 2004

Big Arts Week – a nationwide programme designed to provide better access to creativity in the classroom – has received vital support from the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action.

Funding totalling almost £25,000 for the year 2004/2005 will enable TimeBank, the volunteering charity that runs Big Arts Week, to deliver this important project and to ensure all Welsh schools are aware of the opportunities to participate.   The announcement also means many more artists in the Principality are needed to meet the growing demand from teachers.

Big Arts Week is an exciting initiative to bring a wide range of artists into primary and secondary schools throughout the country to work with and inspire young people.

The definition ‘artist’ is as wide, varied and up-to-date as possible to give everyone the chance to become exposed to innovative methods and ways of thinking.

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.  

Constance Agyeman, Big Arts Week project manager, says: “ Big Arts Week has been a huge success in its first two years but we now have many more schools wanting to take part than artists registered to work with them.   This funding from the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action will be invaluable in helping us to ensure that every Welsh school that wants to participate in Big Arts Week has an opportunity to do so.”

A recent study by the National Union of Teachers found that on average only 65 minutes a week was being spent on the arts in school.   Other research by TimeBank conducted among 700 teachers 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.

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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Press enquiries to David Leck on 01322 528580/07710 326256 or Helen Thompson on 020 7404 5328.

NOTE TO EDITORS

The Welsh Council for Voluntary Action is the umbrella body for 30,000 voluntary groups. The funding for Big Arts Week will meet the costs of employing a part time project officer for Wales and for generally raising awareness among Welsh schools and artists through information packs, exhibitions and an evaluation of Big Arts Week projects in the Principality.