The World Needs Creativity ??

I love this piece of art by Bob & Roberta Smith.

Imagine a world where every child's creativity is celebrated, nurtured, and turned into a superpower! ?? An arts-rich education is the best way to unlock potential and to foster the vital skills for life after school. So I was dismayed to read that the number of students taking GCSE art in the UK has fallen by 40%. Most people will never go to University, so securing Britain's future of creative leadership in the world has to start in schools.

As a born and bred Londoner, I was very fortunate to have been brought up around a community of artists in Hammersmith who encouraged me, and more importantly encouraged my parents to support me, to pursue creativity beyond a hobby and to study Art. I know how fortunate I have been to turn my passion into a life-long career, to have spent the last 25 years surrounded by creative people has been joyous. How many people can say that about their career choice? So I have always been passionate about helping young people, from all walks of life, see the creative industries as a viable option for them - and this has never been more important.

It's about opening up the pathways into the creative industries, and employers being more open minded about where candidates come from. But we must supercharge our education system too, just as James Purnell brilliantly points out in the article below ?? Our economies are stronger because of creativity. In the UK generating over ￡100 billion every year, employing more than 2 million people, and growing at 1.5 times the rate of the wider economy.

Read about UAL’s ten-year strategy ‘The World Needs Creativity’ here:

https://medium.com/@press.office/the-world-needs-creativity-and-this-is-why-ual-is-fighting-for-it-5f7aa411f214