THE creative future of Britain is under threat. Schoolteachers today are struggling to find time to fit arts subjects into a crowded national curriculum.
A recent survey showed that despite creative industries being worth more than £67-billion a year to our national economy, 80% of UK teachers are hard-pushed to find time for the arts.
Which is where Big Arts Week comes in and why I?m delighted to support it. This national project has over the past two years enabled over 100,000 children to enjoy a rewarding creative experience in the classroom.
We match local and regional artists prepared to volunteer their time and share their skills to inspire children in primary and secondary schools. Big Arts Week 2004 runs from June 21 to 25 and this is a plea to my fellow artists around the country to get involved.
And when I say artists, I don?t just mean the obvious. Certainly, we need dancers, actors and painters, but we also want architects, graphic designers, acrobats, jewellery makers, journalists, cake decorators. The more people we have to help inspire a new generation the better.
I can?t think of a better way to stimulate the talent of tomorrow than by introducing them to the talent of today and that?s exactly what Big Arts Week does. It encourages artists into schools to share their knowledge. I urge all artists to get involved ? I am.
To get involved, please visit http://www.bigartsweek.com">www.bigartsweek.com email [email protected]">[email protected] or call 020 7654 0023, by Friday April 15. Thanking you in anticipation.
Harry Enfield
Big Arts Week patron