Shadow Culture Secretary, Harriet Harman, today published new analysis of Government figures which show:

•      a third fewer primary school children are take parting in arts activities after school since the election; and

•      a widening arts gap between white and Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) children.  

The “Taking Part” Survey published by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport showed that:

•      the percentage of all primary school children taking part in music activities has declined from 55% in 2009/10 to 36% in 2012/13 - a decline of 35%;

•      the percentage of all primary school children taking part in theatre and drama activities has declined from 49% to 33% - a decline of 35%; and 

•      the percentage of all primary school children taking part in dance activities has gone down from 45% to 29% - a decline of 33%.

The survey also revealed that the gap between BME and white children’s participation in afterschool arts activities has been getting worse since the election.  The figures show particularly worrying falls in activity for BME children:

•      the percentage of all BME primary school children taking part in music activities has declined from 60% in 2009/10 to 34% in 2012/13 - a decline of 44%;

•      the percentage of all white primary school children taking part in music activities has declined from 55% in 2009/10 to 37% in 2012/13 - a decline of 32;

•      the percentage of all BME primary school children taking part in theatre and drama activities has declined from 44% to 26% - a decline of 41%;

•      the percentage of all white primary school children taking part in theatre and drama activities has declined from 50% to 35% - a decline of 31%;

•      the percentage of all BME primary school children taking part in dance activities has gone down from 42% to 21% - a decline of 51%;

•      the percentage of all white primary school children taking part in dance activities has gone down from 46% to 31% - a decline of 32%.

In 2012/13, the gap between BME children’s arts activity and their white counterparts is:

•      10.5 percentage points in dance activities - in 2009/10 the difference was 3.4 percentage points – since then, the gap has gone up three times

•      8.9 percentage points in theatre and drama activities - in 2009/10 the difference was 6.4 percentage points

•      18.8 percentage points in arts and crafts activities - in 2009/10 the difference was 4.9 percentage points – since then the gap has nearly quadrupled

•      3.4 percentage points in music activities - in 2009/10, BME children were 5.1 percentage points more likely to take part in music activities than white children

•      1.5 percentage points in reading and writing activities - in 2009/10 BME children were 0.7 percentage points more likely to read and write outside school than those from white groups.

Harriet Harman, Labour’s Shadow Culture Secretary, said:

“Taking part in art and culture is a vital part of a child’s education and helps them develop their full potential

“This is important both at school and in after-school activities - whether it’s dance, drama or music.  But we are seeing a serious fall in the amount of art and culture that children are able to take part in.

“The blame for this lies fairly and squarely at the door of this government.  They don’t understand the importance of the arts and their role to extend opportunities to every child. 

“Michael Gove devalued creativity in schools and many local arts organisations who would provide out of school activity for young people have lost support because of the government cuts to local councils.  And more than a third of local authorities have reported a drop in afterschool clubs since the elections.

“The widening gap between white and Black and Minority Ethnic children is very worrying. It is every child’s right to explore their artistic and creative potential – and that shouldn’t depend on your race. These figures should be a wake-up call to the government. 

“Labour is committed to opportunity for every child to experience and participate in the arts.  We will get OFSTED to check that every school is providing arts and cultural opportunities. We will use our plans for afterschool clubs to give primary school children creative activities and get more local and national arts organisations involved so young people get access to the arts. We will ensure that arts organisations funded by the Arts Council extend opportunities to young people.”