Performing Arts: Young People
Culture Media and Sport

Andrew Rosindell (Romford, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to encourage young people to become involved in (a) drama and (b) acting.

Edward Vaizey (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Culture, Communications and Creative Industries), Business, Innovation and Skills; Wantage, Conservative)

Arts Council England supports young people to become involved in drama and acting in a number of different ways. Goal 5 of their strategic vision for the arts for the next 10 years is that all children and young people experience the richness of the arts which includes taking part in art forms such as drama.118 National Portfolio Organisations stated in their funding applications that they would be delivering against this goal.

Theatre companies such as Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre run large scale, highly successful programmes to engage young people. Arts Council England regularly funds a number of theatres whose vision and offer is entirely focused on children and young people such as Unicorn and Contact. The newly launched Strategic Fund for Touring includes a specific aim to fund a wide range of high quality work on tour including, in particular, more work by and for children and young people.