Report highlights barriers to access to arts including social class, gender and language
The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) – which represents youth organisations working with over 380,000 young people nationwide – has welcomed the publication yesterday (4.10.16) of ‘Arts and Cultural Participation among Children and Young People: Insights from the Growing Up in Ireland Study’ a major study conducted by the ESRI on behalf of the Arts Council.
James Doorley, deputy director of the NYCI said: “This important publication is to be welcomed as it provides robust evidence of the benefits of participation in the arts for children and young people, both in and out of school. Crucially, it also identifies barriers experienced by some young people including social class, gender and language. These findings highlight the importance of strategic investment in arts provision for all children in order to close the achievement gap between more and less advantaged children.”
Postcode lottery
“The absence of a strategic approach to provision and planning and the lack of adequate funding means that a young person’s access to the arts can often be determined by whether or not they are lucky enough to be in an area in which there is strong local provision, and, if not, whether they can access transport or their parents can pay for alternative provision instead,” added Mr Doorley.
“The findings of this report will not be a surprise to NYCI’s member organisations, many of whom provide non formal arts and culture activities to children and young people who would otherwise miss out. In a country internationally renowned for the quality of its contribution to world culture, it is not acceptable that only children and young people in families with the financial and social means have access to some of the experiences which give colour and richness to childhood including music, drama, dancing, drawing and literature,” concluded Mr Doorley.
In addition, the NYCI stated that it looks forward to continuing to work in partnership with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Arts Council on the issues around access to the arts for young people.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Daniel Meister, Communications Officer at NYCI on 087 781 4903 or 01 425 5955 or email communications@nyci.ie
Notes to Editors:
National Youth Council of Ireland
The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) is a membership-led umbrella organisation that represents and supports the interests of voluntary youth organisations and uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people.
NYCI Youth Arts Programme
The National Youth Arts Programme is a partnership approach to promoting and developing youth arts in Ireland. It is a strategic partnership of NYCI, The Arts Council and The Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
