Schools and colleges across the country are today (Friday 28 May)
showcasing the breadth of creative talent among children and
young people in a national festival celebrating the vital role
the arts plays in education.
Nine education organisations have joined forces to stage the
Festival of School and College Arts, a day of creative
celebration which aims to provide a burst of artistic energy to
counter the negativity and disruption to education caused by the
Covid pandemic over the past year.
Schools and colleges are today posting a dazzling array of
creative work from their students and pupils on their Twitter
accounts, using the hashtag #EduArtsFest – everything from
paintings and drawings to dance and poems, music and drama
performances.
The Festival has been embraced by hundreds of schools and
colleges as a moment of relief from day-to-day pressures and an
opportunity to showcase the amazing work they have been doing
despite the considerable challenges faced during the pandemic’s
lockdowns and online learning.
The artwork and performances being shared on Twitter have not
been created specifically for the Festival but are representative
of the creativity and talent of children and young people in
education every day, with the majority having been produced
during the pandemic.
The Festival runs for just one day but many schools and colleges
were quick to show their support after it was announced last
month, posting students’ work well in advance and helping to
spread the word far and wide.
The Festival of School and College Arts is a joint initiative by
the Association of Colleges (AoC), Association of School and
College Leaders (ASCL), Confederation of School Trusts (CST),
Independent Schools Council (ISC), National Association of Head
Teachers (NAHT), the NASUWT teachers’ union, National Education
Union (NEU), National Governance Association (NGA), and the Sixth
Form Colleges Association (SFCA).
The festival is also being supported by the Cultural Learning
Alliance, which champions a right to arts and culture for every
child, and the Arts Council.
Association of Colleges Chief Executive David Hughes
said: “It’s great to see students showcasing their
diversity, energy and creativity. This year has been filled with
negative stories and problems caused by the pandemic but young
people have come through it and days like this are exactly what
we need to refocus on the excellent and talented students in our
colleges and schools and celebrate their artistic achievements.”
ASCL General Secretary Geoff Barton said: “A
public celebration of the artistic positivity of children struck
us a splendid way for schools and colleges to banish the doom and
gloom of the pandemic and they have responded magnificently,
surprising even us with a cornucopia of creativity.”
CST Chief Executive Officer Leora Cruddas said:
“The arts enrich children’s lives and we in turn are enriched by
sharing in the fruits of their vitality, imagination and
creativity. It is a privilege today to be able to mark and
celebrate children enjoying the arts – long may this continue.”
ISC Chief Executive Julie Robinson said: “It is
wonderful to be able to celebrate the creativity of young people.
This festival is a valuable reminder of what children can achieve
when they are supported and encouraged to let their artistic
talents flourish.”
NAHT General Secretary Paul Whiteman said:
“Today’s celebration shows that young people do not consider
themselves to be a generation lost to Covid - their creativity is
as strong as ever. This demonstrates the importance of the arts
and the central role of a rounded curriculum in enriching
children’s lives and supporting their personal development and
mental wellbeing.”
NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said:
“The enthusiasm we have seen for the Festival underlines the
benefits for pupils’ academic, social and emotional wellbeing and
the importance of protecting the arts and creative subjects in
the curriculum.”
NEU Joint General Secretaries Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin
Courtney said: “It is great to be able to showcase all
the wonderful creativity going on in our schools and colleges.
Thank you to all the schools and students who have taken part and
made our made our day brighter by doing so.”
