Education

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.

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".

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."
 

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".

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."

Young musicians will benefit from a new international exchange scheme at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) when it launches in September.

The Sir Elton John Global Exchange Programme, named for its benefactor, offers exchanges ranging from one week to a year in length at internationally renowned conservatoires.

Twelve schools including Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Renia Sofia School of Music in Madrid, Berlin's Hanns Eisler Academy, Sydney Conservatorium of Music and The Julliard School have confirmed exchanges thus far.

RAM Principal Jonathan Freeman-Attwood said the participating institutions have "long been friends" of the academy.

"What drives this latest programme is the need for music - indeed all the arts - to break down the kinds of boundaries and barriers which actively work against the open spirit of creative enquiry and collaboration between different countries."

Wales' action plan for creative learning has been extended until March 2025.

Since its launch in 2015, 84% of Welsh schools have engaged with the creative curriculum, creating 238,000 opportunities for learners.

The Welsh Government will announce curriculum reforms next year that are expected to include expressive arts as one of six core pillars.

Arts Council of Wales Director of Arts Engagement Diane Hebb said the three year extension will support arts-rich experiences in school. 

“The achievements of the programme to date have been extraordinary and evidence continues to show that the impact has been transformational for learners, teachers and schools, and indeed for artists alike.”

Eleven schools in Northern Ireland will each receive funding to hire professional artists.

£15,000 has been awarded by the Creative Schools Partnership, a combination of National Lottery, Education Authority and NI Executive funding, across the schools' proposals.

Projects include screenwriting, dance, photography, filmmaking and music composition. Grants will cover two years' work.

First Minister Paul Givan said: “This successful partnership has already seen hundreds of children engage with the programme within post-primary schools in urban villages areas.

“The young people have benefited from this innovative arts-based approach, which has supported curriculum learning and improved their educational outcomes.”