It was music to my ears to hear Keir Starmer setting out Labour’s ambitious plan for the creative sector, which includes measures to prioritise arts education within the national curriculum, a crackdown on ticket touting, and targeted investment in the creative industries.
It’s all about making the Arts more accessible to young people from all backgrounds.
The Tories have spent years undermining and defunding the arts, making it increasingly difficult for all but the most privileged to afford to participate, whether it be affording music lessons or access to cultural activities.
GCSE enrolment in arts subjects has dropped by a staggering 47% since 2010.
Labour analysis found that of 130 Britons nominated for the main prizes at the Oscars, Baftas and Mercury prize over the last 10 years, 40% went to private school, against 6% of the population who are privately educated.
Labour is pledging a creative education for every child, ensuring creative and cultural experiences at school to build confidence and essential skills such as communication, critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork.
A Labour Government would also create a new National Music Education Network, to help parents, carers and teachers find resources and opportunities for children to kickstart a route into the arts.
This would include Apprenticeships and new technical excellence colleges and a new national body – Skills England, to ensure equitable regional opportunities. This would include funding and utilising our existing grassroots music venues, art galleries, pubs, community centres and sports pitches.
Digital Music Instruments Certificate
Labour’s new Digital Music Instruments Certificate would simplify and speed up the Brexit bureaucracy that prevents many musicians and arts organisations from touring.
Labour would also abolish unpaid internships that are unfair to young worker’s and favour those who can afford to take such an opportunity.
Keir’s landmark speech talked about the value of the arts, not just as being a vital part of growing the economy but vital to personal growth and development.
1 in 14 people work in the Creative Industries which are worth a total of £125bn to our economy. This is not just a nice to have – it’s a vital sector in Labour’s mission to grow the UK economy faster than any other G7 nation.
We cannot do that without harnessing all the UK’s imaginative and creative talent and unleashing industries as diverse as publishing, performing arts, gaming, advertising and architecture.
It’s not fair to deny the talents of all our children and I’m glad Labour have a plan to allow all kids the chance to nurture their talents and follow their dreams.
This is a monthly guest column provided by
Mohammad Yasin, Labour MP for Bedford & Kempston.
It is published unedited and does not
reflect the views of the Bedford Independent.
