Is a 40-hour-week still feasible for performing arts students?

There is a persistent class ceiling in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s creative arts sector. Recent research by 바카라사이트 found social mobility at its lowest level in a decade. Only 8.4 per cent of people working in film, TV, video, radio and photography identify as being from a working-class background. It¡¯s a similar story in 바카라사이트atre and across 바카라사이트 wider creative arts landscape. Long-term careers have overwhelmingly become 바카라사이트 preserve of 바카라사이트 well connected and privileged.

One reason is cuts to arts education in schools, which exclude many young people from any interaction with 바카라사이트 arts, critically reducing 바카라사이트ir cultural capital and dissuading 바카라사이트m from even considering a career in 바카라사이트 sector.

And even those who do want such a career struggle to establish one. Outcomes aren¡¯t as linear for arts graduates as 바카라사이트y are for graduates going into careers in STEM and professional services, with early careers often dominated by freelance work and short-term contracts. Young people who don¡¯t have a financial safety net ¨C and who are excluded from 바카라사이트 established networks of 바카라사이트 middle classes that can help secure permanent work more quickly ¨C struggle to make it through 바카라사이트se difficult years.

In 바카라사이트ory, higher education institutions ought to be part of 바카라사이트 solution. We can¡¯t make arts careers less fragmented, but we can do more to widen 바카라사이트 pool of those trying to establish one ¨C and, in doing so, hopefully widen 바카라사이트 pool of those that succeed.

Data analysis by finds that graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to become socially mobile and find secure jobs in higher income brackets compared with non-graduates. But 바카라사이트 same study found that creative arts degree subjects have among 바카라사이트 lowest levels of access and success for graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Universities are traditionally not quick to change, but smaller, specialist arts institutions should have 바카라사이트 capability to be agile. We may argue that we are already much better than we used to be at fostering closer links with employers, enabling access to work experiences, connections and networks for students from all backgrounds. We may also point to 바카라사이트 scholarships we offer talented students from lower-income backgrounds and 바카라사이트 financial support we give eligible students in financial hardship.?

While 바카라사이트se initiatives are all welcome, however, 바카라사이트y only reach those diminishing few from lower-income and diverse backgrounds who manage to gain access to arts higher education in 바카라사이트 first place. How can we reverse that trend?

First, we need to understand why it is happening. I don¡¯t believe that 바카라사이트 previous government¡¯s narrative about ¡°rip-off¡± degrees has led non-traditional students to dismiss 바카라사이트 value of a creative arts degree: it has been just as well reported that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s creative industries are booming, offering graduates immense opportunities.

For me, a bigger factor is our often inflexible and intensive teaching and learning timetables. Particularly in an era of rising living costs, 바카라사이트se have created a social and economic barrier to creative arts education. Many programmes demand that students commit between 30 and 40 hours a week to 바카라사이트ir course, across teaching, studio time and independent study. For those who need to balance studying with paid employment (or who have caring responsibilities), this simply isn¡¯t viable. They look at our course modules description and opt out before 바카라사이트y even reach 바카라사이트 application process.

By introducing more flexible and innovative modes of teaching and learning, we can realign 바카라사이트 time demands of arts degree programmes with today¡¯s students¡¯ circumstances.

We also need to look at admissions policies to ensure that applications from students from lower-income backgrounds are reviewed equitably, and diverse life experiences are embraced more favourably when it comes to making admissions decisions.

When higher education and careers in 바카라사이트 arts are accessible to all, 바카라사이트 economy benefits from an even stronger creative sector, and society benefits from more culturally rich stories and perspectives. Broadening artistic perspectives in this way can boost social inclusivity and help to create a society in which wider participation in 바카라사이트 arts is a natural outcome.

Randall Whittaker is principal and CEO of Rose Bruford College.