Industry professionals in support of music education

Stephanie Childress leading a workshop with Tri-borough Music Hub's Junior String Ensemble
09 Nov 2022

Music industry professionals are ready to support music education provision, writes Lissy Kelleher-Clarke, but the refreshed National Plan for Music Education falls short of suggesting new ideas.

DCMS provides funding boost for creative businesses

04 Nov 2022

Creative businesses with the potential to grow are to benefit from a new £17.5m funding pot to help expand their operations, attract additional investment and create jobs.

Companies in six English regions will receive support from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) through the Create Growth Programme to "help get themselves investment ready". 

Each of the six regions - Greater Manchester; the West of England, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly; Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire; Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire; Kent, Essex and East and West Sussex; and the North East of England - have been awarded £1.275m in grant funding to develop a targeted programme of business support. 

Meanwhile, a £950,000 careers programme for the sector has launched in England, targeted in 53 priority areas across the country including Barking and Dagenham, Wolverhampton, Rotherham, Slough and Swindon.

The programme will provide specialist careers guidance for 11 to 18-year-olds and help pay for industry-led digital and in-person events, lesson plans, a dedicated careers website with careers information and resources, and training for careers advisors.

It is hoped the support will help ensure more young people from a diverse range of backgrounds can take advantage of career opportunities in the creative sectors.

Creative Industries Minister Julia Lopez said: "From product design and video games to music and film, the creative industries are a stellar UK success story.

"Today’s plans will help get more creative businesses off the ground so they can spread jobs and wealth and help more people, including those from underrepresented backgrounds, break into these world-class sectors."

Birkbeck proposes cuts to creative teaching

03 Nov 2022

Birkbeck, University of London plans to cut 140 roles this academic year, including up to 11 staff in the department of English, theatre and creative writing.

Birkbeck, which offers classes almost exclusively in the evenings, says the proposals, if approved, could lead to the loss of up to 140 posts. A spokesperson for the university said that many of these are already vacant or will become so over the academic year.

Alongside cuts to English, theatre and creative writing, up to seven roles in film, media and cultural studies will be affected.

Birkbeck has said it needs to make the cuts to fill a multi-million pound deficit caused by a fall in student numbers, but the union has vowed to fight the proposals, saying they are "a disaster for students and the university".

Last week Birkbeck's local University and College Union (UCU) said overwhelmingly voted for a motion of no confidence in the senior leadership team and to move towards an industrial dispute. 

UCU Birkbeck branch president Mike Berlin said: "We will not allow hard working staff to lose their jobs because of mistakes by senior management. 

"Birbeck's cuts, which do not include any plans for recovery and growth, are a recipe for managed decline. Birkbeck has a proud history of reaching students who otherwise would not enter higher education. 

"Sacking 140 staff, including up to one in four teaching staff, threatens to trash that history. The cuts would severely harm student learning and jeopardise the university's commitment to social mobility and lifelong learning. 

"We urge management to rethink its knee jerk job cuts and instead work with us to look at how we can attract more students. If the university refuses to do so we will have no option other than to begin taking steps for an industrial ballot."

Filming bootcamp set for West Midlands

27 Oct 2022

Creatives in the West Midlands are being invited to apply for a free six-week programme aiming to develop the next generation of multi-camera talent.

The Filming Performance Bootcamp, a partnership between The Space, Solihull College and University Centre and part funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority, will give participants an overview of how live performances are captured for screen and how various art forms can be filmed for TV and online audiences.

Students will undertake a two-week workshop to learn filming, vision mixing and editing skills, alongside attending masterclasses with industry professionals and gaining hands-on training in capturing live performances and working with artists.

The latest programme, which follows a pilot in Birmingham earlier this year, will run for six weeks starting 30 January 2023.

Applications are open until 8 December to any creatives over 19 that live in the West Midlands, with no prior experience in filming or live capture required.

Skills body ScreenSkills is offering bursaries of up to £2,500 per participant to cover costs incurred while taking part in the course, including a loss of earning access or childcare needs.

CEO of The Space Fiona Morris said the increasing number of opportunities for artists and cultural organisations to present their work digitally is leading to an unprecedented demand for the skills required to film, mix and edit work.

“We’re delighted, therefore, to be working with our partners to provide such brilliant opportunities for trainees to gain hands-on experience and benefit from working with high-calibre creative professionals,” she added.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said the bootcamp will ensure participants are equipped with the sector-relevant skills that will mean they're well-placed to thrive in the months and years ahead: “I cannot wait to see lives changed for the better”.

Prioritising children’s well-being

Tangled Feet's production of Butterflies
26 Oct 2022

Poor mental health among young people is on the rise. And with it, the broader conversation about how theatre can be a useful tool for dealing with complex emotions, anxiety and stress, as Peter Glanville explains.

A career dedicated to skills development

Image of Sarah Mair Hughes
26 Oct 2022

Sarah Mair Hughes marks a decade with Cultural & Creative Skills this year, topping off the milestone by winning Social Leader of the Year at the Welsh Women’s Awards. Here she shares the steps on her career path. 

Mountview returns to joint leadership structure

25 Oct 2022

Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts has reverted to a joint leadership model.

The decision follows the resignation of Chief Executive and Artistic Director Abigail Morris, who took up the post in September last year.

According to The Stage, Morris left the drama school in summer. Former Head of Undergraduate Performance Sally Ann Gritton is now Principal, with Sam Hansford, who was previously Executive Director at the Yard Theatre, now Executive Director.

A Mountview spokesperson said the school’s board took the decision to revert to being led jointly following Morris’ resignation.

Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts scraps audition fees

19 Oct 2022

The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) is making all of its auditions free of charge.   

The higher-education provider says the move, which follows the removal of first stage audition fees last year, is in recognition of the current cost of living crisis and is part of its ongoing effort to increase access and diversity.  

It has come into immediate effect for students auditioning this year for September 2023 entry.

LIPA also plans to continue with a commitment of offering travel grants to applicants attending auditions who come from areas where participation in higher education is traditionally low, which has been running since 2011.  

“We want all aspiring performers and creative artists of the future to have the opportunity to undertake world leading professional vocational training so they can further their ambitions and fulfill their potential in pursuit of developing a career in the creative industries,” Principal and CEO Sean McNamara said.

London set for new concert hall 

17 Oct 2022

London’s first new concert hall in 14 years will open its doors for the first time next month.

The £3.65m venue, located in Embassy Gardens, Nine Elms, will be known as World Heart Beat and belongs to a music charity of the same name.

Alongside a 200-capacity concert hall, it will feature World Heart Beat’s second music education centre that will aim to make music education accessible to all social groups. The charity currently provides music tuition and performance opportunities to 380 young people each year outside of school hours.

The venue’s opening season will begin in January 2023 with “an eclectic ongoing musical programme comprising some of the biggest names in contemporary jazz”. Tickets will be on sale from early November.

“It is such a privilege to be able to contribute to the community with a state-of-the-art boutique concert hall and a music education facility,” World Heart Beat founder Sahana Gero said.

“We would like to think of World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens as an inspiring place to be, a citadel for musical aspirations and achievement. A welcoming home for all.”

Politicians to examine diversity in the talent pipeline

14 Oct 2022

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Creative Diversity has announced its next research project.

The cross-party group of MPs and Peers will examine diversity and inclusion in the talent pipeline, with a focus on the 16+ age category.

Their work, delivered alongside partners including YouTube and King’s College London, will analyse formal tertiary creative education as well as programmes outside formal educational settings.

In doing so, the APPG aims to deepen understanding of the pipeline of new entrants from across the country and identify critical points for intervention to ensure the UK’s creative industries are inclusive and equitable. 

The project is expected to report in summer 2023 with recommendations for the creative industries, education providers and policymakers. 

Roundtables will commence virtually in the coming months with evidence also gathered through a global literature review, analysis of ONS data and online submission. 

The group is welcoming email submissions of evidence from those who can contribute "examples of what works" to support diversity and inclusion in the talent pipeline.

“Our creative industries will never reflect, nor benefit from, the full diversity of talent across the UK unless we address stubborn and systemic barriers to inclusion, including the vital issue of pathways, gateways and pipelines,” Co-Chair of the APPG Baroness Deborah Bull said.

UAL introduces ‘sector-leading’ parental leave policy

13 Oct 2022

University of the Arts London (UAL) says its new parental pay and leave policy is sector leading.

The new policy, introduced at the start of October, offers an equal package of 26 weeks of full maternity or paternity pay to staff irrespective of gender, sexual orientation or how people become parents.

The institution has also reduced its continuous service requirement from 12 months to 26 weeks.

UAL says its new policy was guided by feedback and consultations with staff and trade unions and is supported by an “abundance of evidence” outlining how equal parental leave benefits parents, children, and the economy.

Research from the International Labour Office outlines that generous and non-gender specific paternal leave and pay is one of the most important indirect ways of closing the gender pay gap.

UAL Chief Social Purpose Officer Polly Mackenzie said: “At the heart of UAL’s social purpose strategy is a commitment to pioneer changes that can help solve society’s problems.   

“We hope this move will inspire other organisations to introduce equal parental leave and contribute to a country in which gender no longer determines your earning potential.” 

Royal Opera House begins teacher training initiative

11 Oct 2022

The Royal Opera House has partnered with The Elliot Foundation Academies Trust (TEFAT) to deliver a year-long scheme for teachers across the trust’s 32 primary schools.

The programme of arts-led learning will offer training sessions for teachers in schools in London, East Anglia and the West Midlands.

There will also be a five-week scheme of work inspired by Royal Opera House productions, as well as virtual rehearsals and workshops livestreamed from Covent Garden.

These will be followed by regional presentations and a final performance at the Royal Opera House in July 2023.

The programme is part of TEFAT’s wider Partnership Investment Programme, which has worked over three years to support teachers in projects that improve children’s language and communication skills.

Hugh Greenway, Chief Executive of TEFAT, said: “It is through arts partnerships like this that we are able to help children, and their teachers, raise their expectations of themselves.”

What do teachers want from museums? 

Art Assembly 2019, Walthamstow
28 Sep 2022

A new report provides insights into what teachers need to help them use museums and galleries more in their practice, for the benefit of themselves and their pupils, as Sam Cairns writes.

RSC to boost access to arts education

27 Sep 2022

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has announced a host of initiatives aimed at supporting young people’s access to arts education.

They include Time To Act, a two-year research project into the impact of RSC’s work on children’s language development, literacy skills and sense of identity, agency and inclusion.

The study will be RSC’s first since becoming an Independent Research Organisation.

Elsewhere, the RSC has set the date (18 July 2023) for its first national Young Creatives Convention hosted by the RSC Youth Advisor Board. It has also confirmed an eight-week nationwide tour of schools and theatres with its production of Twelfth Night and added the RSCs young company RSC Next Generation Act’s production of Hamlet to its 2023 programme. 

The company also released educational resources for Deaf young people studying Shakespeare and learning materials for GCSE Drama and English students.

RSC Director of Learning and National Partnerships Jacqui O’Hanlon said the initiatives are about opening up access to arts opportunities and benefits for all young people.

“Ask the young people that we work with, or who work with theatres and arts organisations across the UK, and they will tell you about the enormous value of arts subjects and experiences to their lives and development.

“But they will also tell you that society at large doesn’t seem to value them in the same way. Children’s access to arts is a social justice issue and our Youth Advisory Board want to join the debate and champion their rights, their education and their futures.”

Northern School of Art opens £14.5m campus

26 Sep 2022

The Northern School of Art has officially opened a £14.5m campus in central Middlesborough.

The new campus opened its doors to nearly 800 students earlier this month. It offers a range of specialist creative courses including A-levels, diplomas and foundation courses, alongside a Saturday club for six- to 14-year-olds and arts awards for 14- to 16-year-olds.

The Northern School of Art is the only specialist art and design school in the North East and has a another education site in central Middlesbrough, which was rated Outstanding by Ofsted for its education offer earlier this year. 

It also has a degree-level campus in Hartlepool, with its higher education courses validated by Arts University Bournemouth.

Principal Dr Martin Raby said the new campus “provides a landmark building for creativity in Tees Valley, providing even greater access and opportunities for all”.

“In marking this new chapter, we remain as committed as ever to the value of creativity in our society.”
 

Wakefield performing arts centres join forces

26 Sep 2022

Two performing arts centres in Wakefield have announced a collaboration to develop arts education in Yorkshire.

CAPA College, which provides creative and performing arts training and education for 16 to 19-year-olds will work with Backstage Academy, which offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and short course programmes in the live events and creative industries.

It is hoped the partnership will deliver “incredible new programmes of study, original opportunities for collaborative research and an unprecedented focus on immersive entertainment and performance”.

Each institution’s academic and research teams will be working together to meet the objectives.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said the initiative will “help our region become more attractive for businesses in these sectors to come here and invest”.

“Our region is fortunate to have two organisations that excel in what they do. I hope that through working together to create a creative arts pathway for talented young people they will present opportunities for people across a range of careers in TV, film, theatre and live events,” she added.

Royal funeral underlines the importance of music

Marching bands for Queen's funeral
20 Sep 2022

As the Queen's funeral so poignantly demonstrated, music is right at the heart of the UK's cultural life. Steven Berryman thinks it highlighted the importance of protecting the place of music in our national curriculum. 

Coventry’s Albany Theatre launches youth initiative

12 Sep 2022

The Albany Theatre in Coventry has expanded its Creative Engagement programme with two new youth theatre groups.

The Albany Youth Theatre (AYT) will offer sessions every Wednesday during term time, aiming to help young performers build confidence, learn new skills and enjoy regular performance opportunities.

Participants will also have the chance to learn about all the work that goes on behind the scenes and backstage at a theatre.

The new programmes are divided by age, offering a programme for juniors, aged eight to 11, and seniors, aged 12 to 15.

In the wake of Coventry’s year as City of Culture, “it’s a priority for us to keep theatre and the arts in the spotlight for people of all ages”, said the theatre’s Creative Engagement Coordinator, Vicky Basterfield.

“We believe that these two new groups, combined with our other Creative Engagement work, will help to maintain and improve accessibility to performing arts in the city.”

The Creative Engagement initiative includes other youth-focused programmes such as groups in local primary schools, with other education projects in the pipeline.

Basterfield said that the new classes have proved extremely popular and urged interested parents to make contact as soon as possible about last-minute spaces. 

“The AYT will be a place for young people to realise their ideas, develop and learn, all whilst having loads of fun, and we can’t wait to get started with this and many more exciting things on the horizon at the Albany,” she said.

Liverpool invests £1.6m in music development

05 Sep 2022

Liverpool City Region (LCR) Combined Authority is investing £1.6m in its LCR Music Board.

First set up in December 2018, the board is responsible for creating and overseeing a strategy to grow and support the music sector and its economic and social impact on the city region.

The latest investment is part of a £2m pledge made in March 2020 and will enable the board to deliver the second phase of the LCR Music Sector Development Project.

Plans include the creation of a LCR Music Office, which will act as a single point of contact for music businesses across the city region by providing information, advice and signposting to available support. 

A skills development strand of the project will deliver apprenticeships and traineeships across the music sector. 

The programme also plans to support industry career events and outreach to young people, providing career advice and support in association with local music education hubs.

Head of Liverpool UNESCO City of Music Kevin McManus said the local music sector is an important economic driver for the city region.

“This programme will help ensure that the sector can continue to grow, creating skilled jobs here, retaining talent in the region and making it a place where other music businesses want to invest.”

Fostering musical talent

pupils take part in a music lesson
31 Aug 2022

There’s a perception that musical talent is about instrumental proficiency, so the stereotype of the child prodigy persists. But Hester Cockcroft says that denies the potential of those with no access to music.

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