Giving all children access to the arts: Finland’s plan for cultural education

Photo of children at an art gallery
22 Sep 2019

Every teenager in Finland will get free visits local and national arts institutions, thanks to the country’s “innovative” plan for cultural education. Aleksi Valta describes how communities are building cultural competency from the ground up.

Your questions answered on ACE's new strategy

A choir performing out the front of the Fitzwilliam Museum
16 Sep 2019

Arts Council England’s policy leads respond to questions on its plans for the next ten years.

Five non-graduate routes into creative work

Three young adults working with a keyboard at a computer
05 Sep 2019

A recent report highlighted the barriers facing young people entering the sector – but there’s no need to give up on your dreams, says Tor Evans.

Decline in creative GCSEs continues

Photo of a brush and paint pots
28 Aug 2019

The number of students taking Art and Design has increased, but campaigners said it is “not enough to correct several years of long-term decline in uptake”.

Parents more likely to visit galleries with children, says survey

27 Aug 2019

New research finds that a lack of play areas and parking were the most common reasons for negative experiences when taking children to cultural venues.

Decline in creative A Levels accelerates

Photo of student drawing
23 Aug 2019

About 6500 fewer students sat A Levels for creative subjects this year, outpacing a general decline in the number of exams taken by 5%.

Cultural Education Partnerships’ development stalls

A photo of children in a gallery with pictures on the wall
22 Aug 2019

Four years after the scheme was launched, only a third of partnerships believe they are established and delivering.

Nothing but a number? Young people on boards

Dana Segal teaching at the National Arts Fundraising School
18 Jul 2019

It's great that arts organisations are recruiting young people to their boards - but they need to really think about why, says Dana Segal.

'If you can't find the work, make it': helping young people take the creative initiative

A girl spray painting a poppy onto a wall using a stencil
18 Jul 2019

Programmes that nurture imagination and ambition can help re-establish the arts as a transformative force, says Robert West.

Tackling diversity in children's arts: what we've learned in a year

A man in a wheelchair performing for a group of young children
18 Jul 2019

Tara Lopez identifies three key themes that have emerged so far from the four-year Vital Spark initiative.

'They let us pick any artist in the world': the freedom to create relatable theatre

Photo of Japanese artists Chim↑Pom
18 Jul 2019

The Contact Young Curators programme gave Wez Thistlethwaite the opportunity to re-engage his creative muscles by co-curating a world premiere at this year’s Manchester International Festival.

Austerity is undermining children’s access to culture, finds research

A photo of a boy holding a tablet
12 Jul 2019

An LSE researcher said children’s development is being thwarted by Government policy, but argued the situation could be improved if recent welfare cuts were reversed.

Government should fund young creatives to build diversity, says report

Photo of a musician
05 Jul 2019

Many BAME young people interviewed felt that “drama and acting was more for white people and that music was more for Black people”.

Four ways the Durham Commission can create a lasting legacy

Photo of a group of children wearing headset, interacting with a book
04 Jul 2019

As the Commission gets ready to publish its recommendations on creativity and education, Joe Hallgarten puts forward four ideas he'd like to see included.

Watchdog questions trustworthiness of DfE statistics

A close up of a person's hand playing the guitar
07 Jun 2019

The UK Statistics Authority has called for greater clarity in the way the Department presents statistics, after investigating concerns raised by ArtsProfessional and others.

Standing out from the crowd

Photo of a silhouette of an audience facing a red stage curtain
06 Jun 2019

Many young people dream about breaking into the performing arts industry, but without some work experience it can be almost impossible. Ruby Clarkson offers some guidance on how to find it.

Giving youth a voice

Photo of a group of young people
06 Jun 2019

Engaging with young people is a sound investment in future audiences, says Annabel Thomas - provided you are clear about why and how you are doing it.

Children from deprived areas shut out of music qualifications

A man sitting at a computer
31 May 2019

Research finds that “large geographical areas are completely without music provision at A level”.

No let-up in arts A level decline

31 May 2019

Early figures suggest that the trend away from studying some arts subjects at GCSE may be bottoming out, but A level entries continue to fall away across all disciplines.

Russell Group scraps A Level subject guidance

24 May 2019

The move by the elite university group has led to renewed calls to reconsider the controversial EBacc performance measure.

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