DfE plans ‘worrying’ for creative degrees

students take part in an art class
02 Mar 2022

Disadvantaged groups could miss out on future university places as creative degrees fail to feature in funding for “strategic priorities”.

Higher education lends support to LEEDS 2023

22 Feb 2022

The University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University will lead a strand of the LEEDS 2023 programme with the support of other local educators.

Leeds Trinity University, Leeds Arts University, Northern School of Contemporary Dance and Luminate Education Group have also signed on to be "gold partners", offering events and opportunities to participate in the placemaking festival.

LEEDS 2023 Creative Director Kully Thirai said the partnerships aim to show that Leeds is "an exceptional city for anyone that wants a creative education".

"We will work with our education partners to create opportunities for those already studying in the city to be part of something that’s one-in-generation, and to attract more young talent to study, work and continue to create here."

Leeds University's involvement was first announced last year. It is working to establish a National Poetry Centre that will host several LEEDS 2023 activities and events.

Vice-Chancellor Simone Buitendijk said its Cultural Institute, which is leading on the project, will foster collaborations between the city's creative sectors and its students.

OfS proposals could ‘discourage creative talent’

graduates in a line on graduation day
17 Feb 2022

The education regulator says skills development and graduate earnings may be considered when measuring degree programmes’ success. 

Plastics collection awarded nationally significant status

16 Feb 2022

A collection of designs in plastic has been designated as nationally important by Arts Council England.

Held by the Museum of Design in Plastics at the Arts University Bournemouth, it includes objects like an early billiard ball, prosthetic limbs and the iconic Mr Potato Head toy.

Chief Curator Professor Susan Lambert said there is no other collection worldwide that engages so thoroughly with the history of plastics.

"In recent years, discourse around plastics in the designed world has been divisive, being somewhat polarised by issues around overuse and sustainability. 
 
“We often see plastics depicted as objects that leave an indelible and damaging impact on the natural world, and while that’s certainly something we need to address as a global community, the current pandemic will see more than 8 billion plastic vaccination syringes used across the world."

Dr Nick Merriman, Chair of Arts Council England’s Designation panel, said he hoped the accolade safeguards the collection for future generations to enjoy.

Digital key to removing music education inequalities

10 Feb 2022

Funding digital innovation will be key to overcoming inequality in music education, a new report says.

Youth Music Charity NYMAZ led an eight-year programme supporting Music Education Hubs to provide online instrumental tuition.

Its conclusive report, Connect: Resound, found online music education opportunities help remove barriers and supporting inclusive and diverse teaching.

The programme reached more than 420,000 viewers through livestreamed events and delivered training to almost 8,000 professionals.

NYMAZ Director Sarah McWatt says the pandemic accelerated the demand and development of digital skills.

“The overarching challenge is how best to address wider inequalities and societal digital poverty, especially in rural and displaced communities and with those who suffer economic hardship.”

'Overworked' theatre school pupil sewed through her hands

09 Feb 2022

A former student of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School says she was "overworked" when she sewed through both her hands.

Stephanie Drogemuller's accident occurred in 2014, and the school says it will investigate if she makes contact.

Drogemuller said she was working hard for the Christmas season and "was so exhausted the needle went through both of my hands on the sewing machine".

She was asked by a school staff member whether it had happened because of her dyslexia.

"I felt like she was phishing for me to say yes, as a sort of easy answer," Drogemuller told the BBC.

School CEO Fiona Francombe said: "We are concerned to hear these reports".

"We take our duty of care towards students extremely seriously and have a robust series of policies and services in place, that we regularly review and update, to support student wellbeing.

"Our courses need to prepare students for professions that can be both physically and mentally demanding, but our priority is to achieve this whilst ensuring their safety and wellbeing."

Keir Starmer: Government is 'attacking' British creativity

03 Feb 2022

Labour Leader promises action on EU touring if elected and says the creative industries deserve more "respect".

Creative teachers offer the most industry experience

Children and Teachers look at an Abstract Painting
02 Feb 2022

A new report recommends long term funding to allow more schools to embed opportunities to work with industry partners.

BBC orchestra moves to Great Yarmouth

01 Feb 2022

The BBC Concert Orchestra is taking up a three-year residency in Great Yarmouth.

The move is part of Create Yarmouth, a collaboration with Orchestras Live and East Anglian arts organisations, which aims to to provide new music learning pathways.

BBC Concert Orchestra musicians will deliver workshops in every Great Yarmouth primary school, with free school concerts also scheduled.

Local young producers will develop their cultural industry skills by helping deliver parts of the programme.

A Heritage Action Zone cultural programme will see small ensembles perform in community settings across the region.

Ways of working with universities revealed

performers dance in front of a lit up building
25 Jan 2022

One of the largest surveys ever undertaken between the arts and academia produced some new perspectives on how collaborations can be forged. Evelyn Wilson and Emily Hopkins share their insights.

Three-year inquiry into GSA fire inconclusive

25 Jan 2022

A three-year investigation into a fire at Glasgow School of Art has given no answers.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s final report says the cause of the June 2018 fire remains “undetermined” due to extensive damage and the destruction of evidence.

At the time of the blaze, the Mackintosh building was undergoing a £35m restoration project, having already been damaged in another fire in May 2014.

In a joint statement, the school's Director Penny MacBeth and interim chair Kirsten Bennie expressed frustration the fire's cause was not identified. 

They said the school will learn from the report for future construction projects, including the Mackintosh's reinstatement.

Call to scrap GCSEs amid paltry arts entries

25 Jan 2022

The summer exams must go, former education secretaries say, as a new commission reports the need for students to develop creativity. 

ABSRM extends musical theatre grades 

24 Jan 2022

Musical theatre students can now take exams across eight ABRSM grades.

Two new higher grades of Singing for Musical Theatre exams have launched and can be assessed in two formats; pre-recorded or live.

ABSRM says new repertories were designed to appeal to diverse tastes. Song lists across existing syllabuses have also been refreshed.

Academic Director Philippa Bunting says the courses are designed to "encourage the real-life musical skills that are needed to enhance rehearsals and performances alike".

Contribution to culture part of universities' value

20 Jan 2022

A new metric for measuring the merit of "low value" courses like creative arts aims to change perceptions of what a quality education looks like.

Parents support creative university degrees

13 Jan 2022

UK parents are in favour of university-level creative courses and recognise their economic benefits, new research indicates.

A study conducted for Universities UK found 65% of parents agree that creative degrees benefit the UK economy, with 69% saying students on these course gain skills to power the creative industry.

Two thirds said the pandemic has caused long term damage to the UK’s creative industries.

In response, Universities UK is launching MadeAtUni: Creative Sparks, a campaign to showcase creative talent and encourage the Government to support creative university degrees.

Universities UK Chief Executive Alistair Jarvis said universities are central to the UK’s creative excellence: "They’re where the nation’s creative sparks are ignited."
 

Schools may have to suspend music teaching, DfE warns

12 Jan 2022

Professionals have voiced "real concerns" over the proposal, saying it would harm pupils more than it helps them.

ALRA makes second round auditions free

12 Jan 2022

There will be no fees for applicants who make it to the second round of acting auditions at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA) this year.

The conservatoire said it wants everyone to be able to audition regardless of background or financial situation.

Although there is still a £5 administration fee for the initial audition, it says the subsequent £30 fee has been removed: "We know that £30 can be a steep cost for some, especially if the applicant is applying to several schools."

Sonia Watson-Fowler, ALRA’s Director of Culture and Creativity, called it "a small yet necessary step towards the long-term goal of creating and maintaining a more inclusive organisation".

Black British theatre

Students at BADA
11 Jan 2022

In the wake of the killing of George Floyd, many drama schools committed to reform their curricula. Oladipo Agboluaje shares a ground-breaking programme that has emerged as a result.

Partnership to expand music education in South East

05 Jan 2022

A new partnership aims to grow options for music tuition in the South East of England. 

Brighton & Hove Music & Arts (BHMA), which manages the Create Music hub, has joined forces with East Sussex Music (ESM) to expand its online offering.

Create Music Director Peter Chivers said the partners will share resouces and skills to reach more learners.

BHMA Chief Executive Andrew Comben added: "As access to the arts becomes increasingly difficult for a lot of communities, offering affordable tuition in familiar locations or online is essential to keep young people engaged."

More inclusive classical music

violinists play classical music in an orchestra
05 Jan 2022

Poor quality data about classical music is a significant obstacle to understanding its lack of diversity. But Anna Bull thinks ACE’s new research provides some valuable insights.

Pages

Subscribe to Education