Do we need a new arts apprenticeship system?

As last year drew to a close, the All-Party Parliamentary group for Creative Diversity, co-chaired by Deborah Bull and MP Chi Onwurah, recommended the ‘urgent’ revision of creative and cultural education provision. Pressing the Department for Education (DfE) to consider the implementation of a new education plan that spans from the beginning of every child's time at primary school to the end of secondary, the group believes that education can reinforce the ‘talent pipeline’ that leads to creative careers. This group worked with the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre to create the Making the Creative Majority Report, launched in October 2023. One of the prongs of its requests focuses on reforming and updating the arts apprenticeship system.