Art, Design & Creative Industries
Convenor: Mark Crawley, National Arts Learning Network - m.crawley@arts.ac.uk
The National Arts Learning Network (NALN) lead the Art, Design & Creative Industries workstrand so that all LLNs which have an arts focus are able to meet to share common issues.
NALN recognises that the Creative Industries are becoming ever more significant in the UK, and represent a larger proportion of the economy than any other country in the world. Over 2 million people in Britain are employed within the sector, and it accounts for one twelfth of the economy.
The Arts are one of the least diverse disciplines, with the latest Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Performance Indicators showing that 29% of young entrants to full time first degree courses in the creative arts are from lower socio-economic groups. In more selective institutions, the percentage participation can be significantly lower than the benchmarks set by HESA.
The UN estimates that the Creative Industries account for 7% of global GDP and are growing at 10% a year (DCMS website).
There is clearly a need to support all learners in gaining new skills. This includes adults; not just in further and higher education, but in continuous professional development. Lifelong Learning Networks such as NALN have a role in contributing to the Creative Industries through providing a workforce of qualified and continually up-skilled practitioners that is more representative of the population of the UK.
LLN PARTICIPATION
National Arts Learning Network; South East London; Western Vocational; The Creative Way; GMSA; MOVE; Progress 2 Succeed; Coventry and Warwickshire; South East London; West London; Progress South Central; Staffordshire, Shropshire, Stoke on Trent, Telford and the Wrekin
PAST MEETINGS
NALN hosted meetings for LLNs with an arts strand prior to the National Forum Workstrands being set up. These meetings took place on 2nd May 2006 and 19th October 2006. The first LLN National Forum workshop was held 4 May 2007. The second workshop was held 27 September 2007, at The London College of Communication.
Notes on workshop held 4 May 2007
Notes on workshop held 27 September 2007
FUTURE MEETINGS
Continue to invite external speakers to update the group on areas of common interest in the creative industries, including other NALN projects. The group are keen to be kept informed on developments on the 14-19 Creative and Media Diploma. University of the Arts London is hosting a conference related to this in June 2008.
SUMMARY OF TOPICS RAISED
- Employer engagement
- Progression Agreements
- 14-19 Creative and Media Diploma
- Creative Apprenticeships
- Higher Level Skills Pathfinder project
- NALN ‘Endangered Subjects’ project
We will continue to address national issues and highlight projects of common interest.
LINKS
Link to Creative Arts HEA Subject Centre
Link to Dance, Drama and Music HEA subject Centre
Link to Creative & Cultural Skills (Sector Skills Council)