With £27,000 fees for an average arts degree, the arts would look set to become another realm increasingly dominated by the privileged. It seems unlikely that the average student would set forth on a pricey art, literature or design degree when they could study technology for free.
The choice is made even clearer when students are repeatedly told that to follow creative paths means a lack of prospects. Arts Council England cuts of £11.6 million have come into effect over the last two to three years and are severely affecting the operations of national cultural institutions that could potentially employ these graduates.
A recent study by Warwick University has also revealed that the number of arts teachers in schools since 2010 has dropped by 11%, with a 25% drop between 2003 and 2013 of GCSE entries for craft related subjects.
This marginalization of the arts, already in full swing, and to be potentially further exacerbated by UKIP’s policies, has two major consequences. Firstly the Centre for Economics and Business Research’s 2013 report found that “arts and culture generate more per pound invested than the health, wholesale and retail, and professional and business services sectors,” yet we continue to overlook the economic benefits of investing in creative education. Whilst Warwick University’s report reiterates that there are major concerns about the neglect of “creative industries and the broader needs for innovation and growth in the UK."
Secondly, the aforementioned risk of elitism is very much present, on February 4 Stuart Maconie wrote an article for The New Statesman entitled "The privileged are taking over the arts – without the grit, pop culture is doomed"; he argues that the domaine of art and culture is now returning to a rich man’s hobby rather than a “cultural imperative.”
Despite the fact that Farage’s policy fundamentally devalues the arts, tuition fees are a strong pulling factor for the young voting demographic. It should be remembered therefore that in 2010 the Lib Dems raised hopes, gained votes and subsequently provoked significant anger amongst students with their stance on university education that failed to trickle down to concrete government policy.
UKIP refused multiple requests for comment…
The choice is made even clearer when students are repeatedly told that to follow creative paths means a lack of prospects. Arts Council England cuts of £11.6 million have come into effect over the last two to three years and are severely affecting the operations of national cultural institutions that could potentially employ these graduates.
A recent study by Warwick University has also revealed that the number of arts teachers in schools since 2010 has dropped by 11%, with a 25% drop between 2003 and 2013 of GCSE entries for craft related subjects.
This marginalization of the arts, already in full swing, and to be potentially further exacerbated by UKIP’s policies, has two major consequences. Firstly the Centre for Economics and Business Research’s 2013 report found that “arts and culture generate more per pound invested than the health, wholesale and retail, and professional and business services sectors,” yet we continue to overlook the economic benefits of investing in creative education. Whilst Warwick University’s report reiterates that there are major concerns about the neglect of “creative industries and the broader needs for innovation and growth in the UK."
Secondly, the aforementioned risk of elitism is very much present, on February 4 Stuart Maconie wrote an article for The New Statesman entitled "The privileged are taking over the arts – without the grit, pop culture is doomed"; he argues that the domaine of art and culture is now returning to a rich man’s hobby rather than a “cultural imperative.”
Despite the fact that Farage’s policy fundamentally devalues the arts, tuition fees are a strong pulling factor for the young voting demographic. It should be remembered therefore that in 2010 the Lib Dems raised hopes, gained votes and subsequently provoked significant anger amongst students with their stance on university education that failed to trickle down to concrete government policy.
UKIP refused multiple requests for comment…
image via westbriton.co.uk
