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League Table Reveals Top Regions for Art as First Ever Toddler Art Prize is Launched

With an increase in specialist schools, especially for the arts, a new competition aims to get toddlers to show their creativeness but can toddlers be genuinely artistic?
Leisure, Lifestyle - 21 April 2010   Download IconContent available for download:  
Audio | Interview with Fabienne Nicholas and Mike Godolphin| Login to Download

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  News Hooks:

Since 1994 the number of specialist schools has mushroomed to represent more than 80% of state funded secondary schools with currently 3068 Specialist Schools covering specialism’s including language, music and science.

Analysis of data from the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust shows that Technology and Arts are the top two specialism’s with 534 technology and 491 art specialist schools.

A regional league table reveals which local authorities lead the way for the most number of Art Specialist Schools and to capitalise on the nation's increasing appetite for art and to prove it’s never too early to pick up a paintbrush, the first ever Toddler Art Prize has been launched and is being judged by the influential Contemporary Art Society.

. Introduction:

Analysis of the latest data from the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust shows that the nation is going crazy for art. Art is the fastest growing of the specialist schools and is now only second to Technology with 491 specialist art schools across England. A league table shows that while some Local Authorities have up to 15 specialist schools many have only one or none at all. To tap into the increasing appetite for all things arty the first ever Toddler Art Prize has been launched and is being judged by the Contemporary Art Society.

But are toddlers just too young to be genuinely artistic?

Joining us in the studio is Fabienne Nicholas, from the Contemporary Art Society and Mike Godolphin from the competition organisers, Butlins.

. Suggested Questions:

What does the Specialist Art Schools league table reveal about our local area?

Why is art becoming more popular?

At what age should children be encouraged to participate in art?

What is the Toddler Art Prize and how does it work?

What can parents do if they think their child may be a future award winning artist?

Where can we find out more information?