Cross artform

Subjects including art, drama and design technology are in danger of being withdrawn in many state school schools due to financial constraints.

The Observer reports that headteachers are being forced into cutting expensive and less popular lessons to address crippling deficits.

With the vast majority of English state schools expected to be in the red by the next school year, thousands of schools are planning to make teachers and teaching assistants redundant or cut their hours, it said. 

In addition, unions and headteachers say schools may be forced to scrap courses that have smaller uptake, as they are less economical to teach.

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Subjects we have always seen as culturally really important will increasingly become the preserve of private schools because state schools can’t afford to teach them.”

George McMillan, Executive Principal at Harris Academy schools in Greenwich and Ockendon in Essex, said: “For A-level we are already in a position where to make subjects work financially you need at least 100 students in each year group. Anything that isn’t popular enough can’t run.”

The German government is introducing cultural vouchers for young people early next year.

A pilot of the KulturPass, expected to cost the German government €100m, will see everyone who turns 18 in Germany next year receive a €200 voucher to spend on culture.

Recipients will be able to use the voucher over a two-year period. It will be managed through an app and website that advertises cultural offers ranging from books and records to concerts, theatre and museum visits.

Online and international platforms, including Amazon and Spotify, have been excluded from the scheme, to make sure recipients support local cultural providers.

According to the Germany Embassy in London, the scheme aims “to expose young people to the arts and provide a financial boost to the cultural sector”.

Germany’s Culture Minister Claudia Roth and Finance Minister Christian Lindner said the scheme would be extended to a wider age group if the pilot is successful.

Several European countries already administer cultural vouchers for young adults, including France, Italy and Spain.

Culture workers are staging protests today (14 November) at Arts Council England (ACE) offices in Manchester and London, demanding the reversal of funding cuts to organisations across the country.

Organised by Equity, the performing arts and entertainment trade union, letters will be delivered to both ACE offices demanding the reversal of cuts.

Through ACE's Investment Programme for 2023-26 a total of 990 arts and culture organisations will make up the National Portfolio for the next three years receiving a total of £446m a year between them.

But as part of the government's levelling up agenda the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport instructed ACE to ensure that more of the money it invests goes outside of the capital, with funding for London being cut by 15%. There were also cuts to funding for many organisations across the country.

Those affected include the English National Opera (ENO), Oldham Coliseum, Donmar Warehouse, The Watermill Theatre, Hampstead Theatre and the Gate Theatre.

Paul Fleming, Equity General Secretary, said: “Far from levelling up, these cuts are a nakedly political attack and only serve to make culture in the UK more elitist. 

"Funding has been taken away from organisations such as the ENO, the Gate Theatre and Donmar Warehouse which use union agreements, engage substantial numbers of members, and offer decent terms and conditions. 

"What’s more, the overwhelming majority of 100% cuts across the arts fall outside of London and include unjustified attacks on Oldham Coliseum and The Watermill in Newbury, to name just two, while culture funding as a whole is down 46% in real terms since 2005.

"We have told the Arts Council that any cut must not harm the workforce – if that can’t be done, it should be reversed. The arts are the lifeblood of our communities and local economies, and access to them across the UK does not exist without good, well-funded jobs and a diverse workforce.”

He said: “Oldham Coliseum Theatre is an important Greater Manchester institution, with a rich history dating back well over 100 years. We are working with Oldham Coliseum, Oldham Council and Arts Council England to see how we can get the best possible outcome for the theatre, its staff and communities the Coliseum serves.”

A new survey has been launched as part of efforts to improve conditions for creative freelancers.

The Redesigning Freelancing survey has been launched by creative industries network Creative UK working in partnership with nine combined local authorities in England.

Creative UK hopes to gather information that will help it address issues such as the economic uncertainty that comes with freelancing.

Caroline Norbury, CEO of Creative UK said that current difficulties “means we risk losing the next generation of creative freelancers – particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds”.

She added: “It is our collective responsibility to ensure more is done to protect our freelancers, integrate them with organisations in order to build better partnerships, and make sure there is a fair and equal playing field.

“This survey will help us to identify the key priorities that need action now.”

The survey can be completed here.