visual arts blueprint presentation

The Sector Skills Council for the

creative and cultural industries

UK Visual Arts Blueprint

Workforce Development Plan

Consultation – Exeter, 30th January 2009

Research Carried out by TBR Economics



Agenda• Why and how a Blueprint is being developed• Overview of key themes and actions• Discussion

– What do you think about the draft– Answers to the consultation questions

• Plenary Feedback• Next steps



Introduction to CC Skills

• Sector Skills Council – employer led body approved by government

• CC Skills footprint: advertising, craft, design, visual arts, music, cultural heritage, literary and performing arts

• bridges the gap between industry, education and government

• Ensure individuals and organisations have the skills to succeed in the creative economy



Purpose of the Blueprint• Based on extensive research within the visual arts sector• Highlight skill priorities and key actions• Framework for employers, education and training

providers• Ensure individuals can grow and develop their careers



Development Process• Creative Blueprint research for whole creative sector• Consultation events with visual arts sector• Preparation of initial Draft with support of Advisory Group

and other research• Extensive consultation with visual arts sector• Revision of Blueprint, including an Action Plan, with

support of Advisory • Launch from May



Advisory Group

Council for Higher Education & Design Artquest a-n The Artists Information Company

University of the Arts Wysing Arts Centre Arts Council WalesFrieze Zoo Art Fair The Art House Space

The Art House FACT Engage Milton Keynes GalleryDesign and Arts Copyright Society Whitechapel Art Gallery

Museums Association Arts & Business Tate Contemporary Art Society Cultural Leadership Programme

Arts Council England Arts Council Northern IrelandCreative Scotland Visual Arts Galleries Association

National Federation of Artists Studio Providers



We want your views and ideas

• The action plan is for the visual arts sector • Your feedback on the draft proposal is

essential to its success• Please suggest any alternative ideas and

solutions you may have• We would like to know about your

professional development experiences



What do we mean by the visual arts sector• Involves vast range of people in an array of different jobs

and practices• Around the creative hub of artists the art world is

supported by technicians, curators, managers, publicists, academics, educators etc.

• Employers are museums, galleries, studios, arts centres, public sector agencies, educational bodies, studio organisations, festivals and art fairs

• Dominated by individuals and sole traders



The visual arts sector context

• The visual arts sector does not only stand alone• It acts as a feeder for industries such as advertising,

interactive media, the games industry, publishing and design

• Its position within the creative industries has important implications for more general workforce development

• Many of the visual arts skills are transferable to other creative professions.



Key facts about the sector• 37,480 people, including 28,490 artists• 70% are freelance or sole traders• 4,580 businesses - 75% with less than 5 people• Contributes £1.9 billion to the national economy• 95% of people are white, and 50% are female• 47% have a first degree• 40% with a postgraduate degree or diploma• But - artists are not in the current definition of the

creative industries!



Key challenges

• Lack of awareness of employment opportunities within the sector• Artists not trained for business• Insufficient entry routes for young people into the sector• Skills and experience do not match job vacancies• Qualifications do not prepare fine art graduates for work or fully

participate in the sector• Lack of diversity among the workforce• Not enough opportunities to develop skills in post• Access to training for those outside formal employment• Specialist training needs not met



More Key challenges!

• Staff retention in the sector poor• Poor employment conditions• Organisations lack people with business skills• Not enough emphasis on leadership• Insufficient auditing of skills needs• Not enough sharing of good practice across the sector• Insufficient partnerships between employers and higher education

bodies• Although some strong membership and representative bodies exist

there are some gaps e.g. no commercial gallery trade association



Emerging themes

• Clearer entry routes: more entry-level jobs supported by training; fit-for-purpose qualifications; better information on how to enter the sector; clearer information about key skill requirements; the delivery of models for structured induction and training

• To establish accurately what skills the sector needs: enabling key stakeholders and people who work in the visual arts to collect and share intelligence more effectively; strong, clear advocacy for the skills needs of the sector

• To encourage diversity: improving salary packages; building widely accessible opportunities; improving the profile of the visual arts as a career

• To make sure we provide good continuing professional development (CPD), with full access: networking for individual practitioners; greater public/private organisation networking; development of bespoke training opportunities; links to relevant training in other sectors



Emerging themes

• To build entrepreneurial and business skills: support to artists, galleries and organisations to help increase enterprise and sustainability, particularly at leadership and management level

• To maximise existing provision and expertise: identifying and strengthening existing provision in the sector and avoiding duplication

• To link ‘critical’ approaches with practical training and development needs: training and continuing professional development should be informed by the practice-led and peer-based approaches distinctive in the visual arts

• To strengthen networks between practitioners and other visual arts workers: so common approaches to workplace issues and models of good practice can be shared



Proposed Action Areas

1 Strategic2 Entry to the visual arts sector3 Children and young people 4 Further and Higher Education5 Diversity of workforce6 Continuing Professional Development 7 Management and leadership8 Business and enterprise



Strategic

Establish an Advisory Group of senior representatives Review need for an umbrella representative body Align existing research activities on economic impact and

skill needs Develop National Occupational Standards (NOS) to

inform job descriptions, staff development plans and qualifications

Encourage job advertisements to be more skills based Ensure visual arts needs are embedded within regional

cultural and skills plans



Entry into the visual arts sector

Ensure online provision of the latest careers, training and courses information e.g. Creative Choices (Creative & Cultural Skills website)

Develop wider entry-level opportunities for training through creative apprenticeships and other pathways

Ensure traineeship and internship opportunities offer accessible training and development



Children and Young People

Ensure that visual arts education in schools can be supported by properly trained staff

Using Regional Development Groups to identify and share good practice

Encourage employers involvement with visual arts e.g. Arts Award and Arts Mark

Provide guidance on visual arts requirements for Building Schools for the Future Programme

Promote effective and up-to-date visual arts teacher training



Children and Young People (cont.) Encourage visual arts organisations to support delivery of Creative and

Media Diploma and other curriculum activities

Provide training for visual artists on teaching visual arts to children and young people

Increase provision of creative and other apprenticeships based in visual arts organisations significantly

Work with specialist schools and Academies Trust to ensure that visual arts practice is represented across network

Develop the National Skills Academy opportunities to include provision relevant to the visual arts sector



Further and Higher Education Ensure technical, business and freelance career training is covered

by degree programmes, and as continuing professional development (CPD) options

Ensure course content reflects current thinking and practice e.g. use of new technology and latest critical discourse

Develop forums for visual arts employers, practising artists and HE providers to discuss training options and opportunities

Develop HE partnerships with specialist agencies to promote curatorial and commissioning skills in distinct areas such as public art programming, live art and new media



Further and Higher Education (cont.) Develop HEI consortia to offer above three actions and

career-long professional development

Build on National Arts Learning Network (NALN) and CHEAD work to widen participation

Employers to lead on Graduate Apprenticeship programmes with FE/HE partners - linked to DCMS Creative Britain Apprenticeships



Diversity of Workforce Recognise that diversity includes a wide range of issues in

terms of social class, disability and ethnicity Identify role models that can encourage students from a

diverse backgrounds Work with community groups to encourage more

representative entry into apprenticeships, colleges, universities and visual arts organisations

Interventions should be flexible to reflect the local context of different geographical areas

More ‘progression’ agreements, signposting and links between colleges and universities for visual arts students

Learn from positive action schemes to develop diversity in the sector



Continuing Professional Development – for artists Enable access to short courses at Centres of Excellence so

practitioners can learn new skills quickly and efficiently at key moments in their career

Support flexible and ‘portfolio career’ development for artists and freelancers to enable professional self-determination throughout working life

Support developmental toolkits such as those published by a-n The Artists Information Company to help visual artists plan their next phase of career development and associated skills development needs



Continuing Professional Development - for organisations Investigate visual arts organisations can develop joint training

provision through Business Link, Train to Gain and other opportunities

Publish model internship programmes based on accredited units of industry qualifications and CPD framework (including higher level apprenticeships)

Support organisations in developing CPD plans to include training and informal professional development (skill sharing, shadowing, mentoring, shadowing, self-directed goal setting and peer-group learning)



Management and Leadership

Examine current leadership programmes to see how well they serve the needs of the visual arts sector

Promote skills exchange through networking and discussion opportunities – including both public and private sector organisations

Improve advocacy and sign-posting so practitioners and other arts workers can access management and leadership opportunities

Encourage high-level knowledge transfer from other relevant sectors e.g. business and broadcasting

Diversify participation in terms of ethnicity, class, gender and disability take-up of progression opportunities

Investigate international models of best practice



Business and Enterprise

Work with Arts & Business and Business Link to develop central expert advice on company structures and business planning

Raise awareness of existing guidance on marketing and sponsorship

Support initiatives that develop the role of UK artists both in industry and in the international marketplace

Work with Frieze to develop a trade association body for visual arts commercial galleries that could standardise and publish business codes of practice

Develop business training for commercial gallery directors



Next Steps

• Consultation Process– On-line– Regional meetings by CCS and arts councils– Sector led meetings

• Collection and analysis of responses• Revision of Draft Blueprint – in consultation with Advisory Group• Production of Action Plan – in consultation with Advisory Group• Launch of Blueprint with Action Plan



Discussion Groups

• Two topics for discussion:– What do you think about the draft– Answers to the consultation questions

• Feedback from individual groups• General discussion



Feedback from Discussion Groups

• What do you think about the draft

• Answers to the consultation questions

• Any other comments



Next Steps

• Collection of responses from this afternoon

• Collation with responses from wider consultations

• Revision of Draft Blueprint and addition of Action Plan – with Advisory Group

• Launch of Blueprint



How you can contribute further

• Provide further feedback based on discussions today

• Consult with and feedback from your own networks

• Suggest actions you could help take forward



Further feedback• On-line copy of consultation:

www.ccskills.org.uk

• Comments to:

[email protected]

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visual arts blueprint presentation