Press release - 19 September 2000
NCA launches "Creativity in Education" agenda

The National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) will be publishing a summary of 'All Our Futures' - the report by the National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education (NACCCE) which proved difficult to obtain when it was published in May last year. This report holds key messages and proposes a radical revision of the education system, placing creativity at the centre of all subjects which is why the NCA has now produced the summary to ensure that all our teachers, arts practitioners and the general public will have access to this information.

The NCA has raised sponsorship to assist with the production of a summary which it sees as crucial to the future development of the system of education. Tate Modern has kindly agreed to host the NCA launch of All Our Futures: A Summary, which will take place on 21 September 2000. Speakers will include Professor Ken Robinson, Chairman of NACCCE and Sir Nicholas Serota, Director of Tate. With financial assistance from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and The Paul Hamlyn Foundation the NCA has been able to produce 100,000 copies of the summary for distribution free to teachers and school governors throughout the country.

In May 1999, the Government published a major report on education by The National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education (NACCCE). The report, All Our Futures: Creativity, Culture and Education, was the result of a national inquiry commissioned by the Secretaries of State for Education and Employment and for Culture, Media and Sport. The NACCCE brought together leading scientists, business people, artists and educators. A full list of the Committee members is attached.

Ken Robinson, Chairman of NACCCE said, "On behalf of the National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education I am extremely grateful to the NCA for arranging the publication and distribution of the summary of All our Futures. The Government has rightly emphasises the necessity of effective programmes of creative and cultural education alongside raising standards in literacy and numeracy. All Our Futures says why this is essential and how it can be done. The powerful endorsement of the report by so many organisations across and beyond education underlines the need for vigorous action to implement its recommendations."

Victoria Todd, Director of the NCA said "We believe that the message which the report brings home about the need for creativity in all areas of education is so important that we raised the funds to produce a user-friendly summary. The NACCCE report has presented us all with a real opportunity to revitalise the place of creativity throughout the education system. We must take this opportunity to press for change."

Support for the issues raised in the report has been widespread. Teaching unions and subject associations across the fields of science, technology and the arts have enthusiastically welcomed the production of the summary. Over 40 nation-wide organisations are participating in the distribution process to ensure that their members gain access to the important messages contained within the report.

Doug McAvoy, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers said "I am delighted to support this summary. The arts are vital in encouraging and motivating young people to learn. It would be inconceivable to teachers not to have creativity at the centre of their work."

Members of the business community have also welcomed the report's messages and have supported the production and distribution of the summary.

Clive Jones, Director of Carlton TV said "Across the world the fastest growing economies are those been driven by knowledge based industries: industries which demand creativity and innovation. That is why the publication of this summary is vital."

The NCA has welcomed the work that both the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) have undertaken as a result of the publication of the original report. Ministers have welcomed the production of the summary and its widespread distribution.

Alan Howarth, Minister for the Arts said "DCMS and DfEE have been working very closely on implementing the commitments given in the Government's response to the All Our Futures report. We have made substantial progress which underlines the importance that we place on creativity and culture in education, but it is still just the start of what we are hoping to achieve. The real value of the report is its continuing influence and we will listen with great interest to what is being said at today's launch of the summary."

The NCA is planning further action to highlight the issues raised in the report, including:

• The formation of the cross-sector Advisory Group to promote national debate on creativity in education;
• The production of a series of supplementary papers outlining the issues which have emerged in education since the production of the original report (ie development of thinking skills);
• Collation of examples of good practice from across sectors that illustrate how creativity is occurring in a range of different subjects.

Melvyn Bragg, President of the NCA said "The development of an education system which puts creativity at it's heart is the key to preparing young people to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The National Campaign for the Arts is delighted to be publishing a summary of the ground-breaking report and welcomes the Government's commitment to enhance the place of creativity and culture in education."

Return to index