Burberry Puts Cuts To Arts Education Back On The Agenda

Richard Quinn brought the cuts in arts education funding to the industry’s attention over London Fashion Week when he invited 100 uniformed school children to sit alongside press and buyers at his spring/summer 2019 show. Now, the topic is back on the agenda, but this time it’s a British powerhouse bringing food for thought to the table.

The Burberry Foundation, an independent charity set up by the brand, is launching a four-year initiative in Yorkshire schools to measure the impact that an arts and creative education can have on students.

Film, dance, art and theatre are all a priority, with organisations including Leeds Playhouse, Leeds Young Film, Northern Ballet and The Hepworth Wakefield set to provide artists-in-residence schemes at the eight participating schools. Research into the positive effects that this creative learning can have on students’ academic and personal development, meanwhile, will be done at King's College London.

“At Burberry, we believe that creativity should be nurtured, and we are passionate about championing the benefits of making arts and culture available to all,” Leanne Wood, a trustee of the Burberry Foundation and chief people, strategy and corporate affairs officer at Burberry, commented on the project.

As Quinn said just weeks ago, the arts aren’t seen as an academic subject any more – WWD reports that there has been a 34 per cent drop in high school-aged students studying arts subjects – so prospective students don’t realise the career avenues that the creative industries offer. If brands, like Burberry, can drum up enthusiasm at the ground level and, as Wood said, "help to create a wealth of talent for one of Britain’s most important sectors", it is a step towards keeping the creative industries alive – and thriving. Here's hoping other brands follow suit.