The Stage

UK’s first kids’ cultural manifesto to be launched in July

Published Tuesday 27 May 2008 at 14:55 by Lalayn Baluch

Action For Children’s Arts is to launch the UK’s first cultural manifesto for young people at its annual conference on July 21, to be held at London’s Unicorn Theatre.

The document will build on research undertaken through an online survey of children and adults, and interviews with young people carried out by academic Dr Vicky Cave, and discussions with arts professionals.

The manifesto will aim to raise awareness of the role of arts in children’s lives and will make recommendations on a course of action for central government and its departments, schools, funding bodies, creative organisations and local authorities.

Children’s playwright and ACA chairman David Wood told The Stage that despite government initiatives to increase participation in the arts - such as the recently announced Find Your Talent scheme, which promises five hours of culture to youngsters every week - the issue still had a low profile.

Wood commented: “In our view, children are always low on the priority list. We think they should be, if not top of the priority list, equal. If you get them interested and involved now, then you are creating all sorts of possibilities for the future.

“What we are saying is that we want to change the attitude, get increased funding, and show more willingness to take this seriously.”

The final programme for the conference is still to be announced, but speakers confirmed to attend are Camila Batmanghelidjh, founder of charity Kids Company, children and families minister Beverley Hughes, and shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Other guests include Coram Boy author Jamila Gavin, National Campaign for the Arts director Louise de Winter, and Shakespeare’s Globe education director Patrick Spottiswoode.

For details see www.childrensarts.org.uk