The National Education Union (NEU) has launched the Arts & Minds Campaign in collaboration with major arts bodies and networks across the UK. The campaign emphasises the importance of keeping creative subjects as a core part of the curriculum.
A recent NEU article in their ‘Educate’ magazine for teachers states that “one in four school leaders surveyed by Teacher Tapp said that they do not have enough funding for teachers and resources or do not have the necessary facilities.” This reinforces shiftED’s belief that the arts have been sidelined in many schools, with their status reduced to that of an extra-curricular activity rather than a fundamental right to a creative and artistic education.
At shiftED, we believe that children should become artists and designers through participation rather than merely as spectators or consumers of the arts. By offering high-quality experiences with school classes, we provide access to further opportunities beyond school for young people who demonstrate passion and enthusiasm to develop their skills. The third sector has an important role to play in bridging the gap between school and the real world. In our case, this means providing access to learning about pathways into the creative industries, empowered through purposeful and meaningful projects that build skills and creative dispositions.