Progress by Pieces - eNews from PbyP

Thursday, December 08, 2011

Culture, education and economic success.

A new report from the Cultural Learning Alliance, ImagineNation, presents the case for investing in cultural education to benefit us all.

The Cultural Learning Alliance describes itself as“ a collective voice working to ensure that all children and young people have meaningful access to culture in this difficult economic climate.”

Chaired by Lord Puttnam, the group includes a range of organisations working across the cultural and educational sectors, including non-departmental public bodies, philanthropists, umbrella organisations, cultural partners, education specialists and schools. It is supported by a wider membership of over 6,000 individuals and organisations.

In November, the CLA published a report, 'ImagineNation' making the case for the importance of cultural learning for all children and young people in the UK. “Learning through and about culture is a human right enshrined in international law and moral codes. However the arguments for cultural learning are not just about our rights and intrinsic value, there are also very solid and compelling educational, employment and civic benefits delivered by cultural learning.”

The report identifies 5 benefits of cultural education.

1. Learning through arts and culture improves attainment in all subjects.
2. Participation in structured arts activities increases cognitive abilities.
3. Students from low-income families who take part in arts activities at school are three times more likely to get a degree.
4. The employability of students who study arts subjects is higher and they are more likely to stay in employment.
5. Students who engage in the arts at school are twice as likely to volunteer and are 20% more likely to vote as young adults.

The ImagineNation report uses a wide range of evidence recorded in their earlier publication, 'Cultural Learning Alliance, Key Research Findings: The Case for Cultural Learning, 2011' as a clear evidence base for each of the five benefits. The evidence covers both UK based and international studies with large cohorts ( over 10,00 pupils on average).

The ImagineNation report concludes with a set of recommended principles of cultural education in the UK.

The Principles of Cultural Learning

1. Every child and young person should have equality of access to a baseline of quality cultural learning opportunities.

2. Cultural learning happens inside and outside of schools and colleges, and in a wide range of settings.

3. Families, parents and carers are important providers of cultural learning.

4. Young people shape the cultural landscape and are the arts professionals of the future. They should be empowered and supported to engage with, lead and drive the cultural learning agenda.

5. Cultural learning involves diverse practice and encompasses the arts, heritage and knowledge valued by all individuals, cultures and communities.

6. Arts subjects taught in schools and other settings as part of the curriculum have depth, rigour and an established canon of knowledge. They are of equal weight, status, value and importance within the curriculum as other subjects, and require equal resource and provision.

7. Partnership, collaboration, a shared commitment and a collegiate approach from those who use cultural learning in their work with young people are key to its successful delivery.

8. Cultural learning enriches our national life and intrinsically makes a contribution to our society. It is critical to the development of our economy. Through cultural learning young people gain the skills to become creative and cultural professionals and to contribute effectively to the wider workforce.

9. It inspires civic engagement and helps neighbourhoods to make positive changes through collective ownership of culture. This leads to personal, social and community benefit and a shared sense of place.

10. Cultural learning has clearly evidenced educational and social outcomes. Young people who have the opportunity to learn through and about culture are better equipped to achieve across the curriculum, and to take responsibility for their own learning. Attendance, attitude and wellbeing are all improved by engagement with culture. Cultural learning practice should be informed by rigorous research and evaluation into impact and outcome.

To read the report in full click here.

To read the research studies supporting the ImagineNation report click here.

The Cultural Learning Alliance website can be reached through this link.