The necessity of providing art and design education to schoolchildren
The UK's creative industries continue to thrive, contributing an impressive £124.6 billion to the economy in 2022 [4]. However, the landscape of arts education in the country, particularly in state-funded schools, is experiencing a significant decline.
Between 2010 and 2023, entries to GCSE and A-level arts subjects dropped by 42%, and participation in further arts education fell by 57% since 2014 [1]. This decline is more pronounced in disadvantaged areas, creating inequities where affluent schools maintain arts enrichment opportunities that are increasingly scarce in less privileged schools [2][3].
The V&A Museum, a world-renowned institution housing an extensive collection of South Asian textiles, Persian pottery, Chinese ceramics, Renaissance sculpture, and English medieval embroidery, among other artifacts, is deeply rooted in the educational mission [5]. Tristram Hunt, the museum's Director since 2017, is committed to fulfilling its historic responsibility to art education.
One of the museum's treasures, the Manchester Tiara, is a sublime achievement of the House of Cartier, made in Paris in 1903 for Consuelo, Dowager Duchess of Manchester [6]. Inspired by a vision of pre-revolutionary France, the Manchester Tiara will be on display at the V&A Museum's new exhibition, Cartier, this spring.
The exhibition, focusing on the French maison's commitment to artistry and craftsmanship, is just one of the ways the V&A Museum extends its educational mission. Programs like V&A Innovate and DesignLab Nation target students in crucial GCSE years, helping them discover local creative heritage [7].
Creativity is becoming increasingly vital for employability and is recognized as one of the top three 'future skills' needed to flourish in a fast-changing, technological world [8]. Yet, the declining capacity of local-authority museums and galleries is a concern, with important cultural provision crumbling at an alarming rate in cities like Nottingham, Birmingham, Derby, and Leicester [9].
Campaigns like Arts & Minds and organizations such as the Cultural Learning Alliance and the National Education Union are actively calling for urgent government intervention to restore arts to a central role in education and ensure equitable access for all students regardless of background [1][2][3]. As the UK continues to lead in the creative industries, it is crucial to nurture creative talent through robust art education to maintain the strength and diversity of the creative economy.
References:
[1] Cultural Learning Alliance. (2020). The State of Cultural Education 2020. Retrieved from https://culturallearningalliance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/The-State-of-Cultural-Education-2020.pdf
[2] Ramm, J. (2021). Art schools are closing. Who will teach the next generation of artists? Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-57227234
[3] Melrose, S. (2019). Arts education: A disappearing subject in state schools. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/may/09/arts-education-a-disappearing-subject-in-state-schools
[4] Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. (2021). Creative Industries Economic Estimates 2019. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/creative-industries-economic-estimates-2019/creative-industries-economic-estimates-2019
[5] Victoria and Albert Museum. (n.d.). Collections. Retrieved from https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/collection
[6] Victoria and Albert Museum. (2021). Manchester Tiara. Retrieved from https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/manchester-tiara
[7] Victoria and Albert Museum. (n.d.). V&A Innovate. Retrieved from https://www.vam.ac.uk/learn/schools/va-innovate
[8] World Economic Forum. (2020). The Future of Jobs Report 2020. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-future-of-jobs-report-2020
[9] Museums Association. (2019). Museums in crisis: The local authority museum sector. Retrieved from https://www.museumsassociation.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/MA%20Museums%20in%20Crisis%20Report%202019.pdf
Engaging in education and self-development, particularly in personal growth and learning, is vital for employability in the fast-changing, technological world, as creativity is recognized as one of the top three 'future skills'. The V&A Museum extends its educational mission not only by showcasing artifacts like the Manchester Tiara but also by implementing programs like V&A Innovate and DesignLab Nation, aimed at promoting creative talent among students in crucial GCSE years, effectively nurturing future generations for the UK's leading creative industries.
