Commission on creativity and education announced

Published: 19 February 2018
Reporter: Peter Lathan

Arts Council England
Durham University

Arts Council England and Durham University have set up a joint project to determine the role that creative thinking and cultural education play within education. Leading figures from business, the cultural sector, policy and academia have been appointed to the Durham Commission on Creativity and Education.

They are:

  • Sir David Adjaye OBE, architect and lead designer of the National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Lauren Child MBE, Children's Laureate, writer and artist
  • Jon Coles, Chief Executive of United Learning
  • Althea Efunshile CBE, non-executive director of organisations spanning education, culture, media and health
  • Dame Reena Keeble, retired primary head teacher and former National Leader of Education
  • Lord Kerslake, former Head of the Home Civil Service
  • Akram Khan MBE, award-winning dance artist
  • Imran Khan, Head of Public Engagement at the Wellcome Trust
  • Baroness Beeban Kidron OBE, award-winning filmmaker, and co-founder of the educational charity Into Film
  • Professor Roger Kneebone, Professor of Surgical Education and Engagement Science, Imperial College and a London Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellow.
  • Anne Longfield OBE, Children's Commissioner for England
  • Professor Linda Merrick, Principal of Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music and Chair of Conservatoires UK.
  • Jacqui O'Hanlon, Director of Education at the Royal Shakespeare Company
  • Kat Pugh, Head teacher at the St Marylebone Church of England School
  • Paul Roberts OBE, Chair of The Innovation Unit
  • Phil Stokes, Assurance Leader for Entertainment and Media Practice, PwC
  • Alice Webb, Director of BBC Children's and BBC North

The Commission will be chaired by Sir Nicholas Serota from Arts Council England with Professor Alan Houston, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) at Durham University as the academic lead.

The Commission will collect evidence from across the UK and beyond on creative thinking and cultural education, to explore whether there is a gap in what is currently provided. The research will draw evidence from existing literature and interested groups, such as schools, arts organisations and businesses, to identify examples of best practice and to analyse the benefits of an embedded creative education within the curriculum.

As part of the first stage of the research, interested organisations and members of the public are encouraged to register their interest via the Commission's web site. This will be followed by further detailed investigations and a final report in the summer of 2019.

Professor Stuart Corbridge, Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, said: “universities, colleges and schools have a responsibility to develop engaged, global citizens, capable of fulfilling their full career potential—both for their own benefit and for society. We need to ensure that creativity and creative thinking are properly embedded in our education systems.

“The Durham Commission will explore how creativity and creative thinking can be cultivated across the curriculum from nursery school through to higher education and beyond.

“We look forward to working with our colleagues at Arts Council England and the Commissioners to build on the UK's existing strengths in this area and to maximise our potential in a globally competitive market.”

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