The Cultural Learning Alliance (CLA) has recently released their latest Report Card for 2024, which reveals the state of crisis in cultural education, the headline data shows that since 2010 there has been:

• An overall decline in arts subjects studied at GCSE of 42%; at A-Level of 21%, at degree level of 6%
• A 14% decline in art teachers
• A 21% fall in teaching hours for arts subjects between 2011/12 to 2022/23

We now have a very clear view of what has been happening to Expressive Arts education in state schools, and it is a stark picture of erosion and inequality. Despite the recognised value of arts subjects, there has been a systemic and persistent deprioritisation of the Expressive Arts within England’s educational landscape.

The CLA

Learning and engagement are central to the work we do at Meadow Arts. We work with schools, groups and communities across the rural West Midlands, providing opportunities to creatively engage with contemporary visual art.

For over twenty years Meadow Arts has been working with pupils in educational settings of all kinds. We see the positive impacts that arts teaching has on children and young people…In a national curriculum based on learning the right answers and avoiding getting things wrong, art is hugely liberating; in art, there is no wrong answer.

At the same time, we commission regional, national and internationally renowned artists to respond to our place-based, themed programme. We know and see firsthand the value of the UK’s cultural industry and the positive impact of arts and culture on society. Today’s students are tomorrow’s artists and cultural audiences. It cannot be stated loudly enough that arts and creative education matters, counts, and has enormous impact and value.

As society globally faces immeasurable challenges on so many fronts, including climate change, political upheaval and famine, we must value the potential of arts and creativity to encourage lateral thinking, develop a spirit of inspiration and collaboration and develop new, ‘unboxed’ approaches to problem-solving.

Clare Purcell, Executive Director at Meadow Arts

We have worked with thousands of children and young people over the nearly quarter of a century that Meadow Arts has delivered exciting and bold contemporary visual arts projects in predominantly rural areas. Some of our recent school’s projects include:

• Thinking Differently with Chadsgrove, Regency & Westfield SEND High Schools
• Max Literacy with Pershore High
• Hereford Sculpture Trail with Wigmore High  
• Watermark with Bishop Perowne High School
• Watermark with Cherry Orchard Primary & St Barnabas CE Primary School

About CLA

CLA harnesses the power of its alliance to champion a right to Arts and culture for every child. It uses evidence to demonstrate the ways in which an Arts-rich education provides skills for life and skills for work, enabling all children to fulfil their potential.

Find out more at: http://www.culturallearningalliance.org.uk

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