Arts v STEM: Creator of PAW Patrol and Bob the Builder says Government must support creative courses more

Parents back university creative courses, citing benefit to UK economy

• New research shows strong parental support for university creative courses
• More than two thirds (69 per cent) of parents say that creative courses are vital for powering the UK’s creative industries and nearly two thirds (65 per cent) say that they benefit the UK economy
• But two thirds (67 per cent) fear that the pandemic has caused long term damage to UK’s creative industries
• Universities UK launches Creative Sparks campaign to encourage the Government to promote and support the importance of creativity and creative courses

New research shows that UK parents are strongly in favour of university creative courses, recognising their economic benefit and the way in which they power the UK’s creative industries.

The study, conducted by Savanta ComRes for Universities UK, reveals that nearly two thirds (65 per cent) of parents agree that creative courses at university benefit the UK economy, while more than two thirds (69 per cent) say that students gain vital creative skills at university which are essential to powering the UK’s creative industries.

But there are fears that the UK’s renowned creative output could now be under threat, with two thirds (67 per cent) of UK parents acknowledging that creative industries have suffered greatly as a result of the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, the creative industries was the UK’s fastest growing sector, generating over £116 billion for the economy and directly employing 2.1 million people.

In response, Universities UK has launched MadeAtUni: Creative Sparks, a campaign to showcase the creative talent produced by UK universities and encourage the Government to promote and support the importance of creativity and creative courses.

Seven in ten (71 per cent) parents are proud that the UK is one of the world’s leading producers of creative culture and (70 per cent) say that creative activities – such as listening to music, reading, watching television, and gaming – are crucial to boosting wellbeing during the pandemic.

Alistair Jarvis CBE, Chief Executive, Universities UK said: “Our universities, creative education and brilliant academics are central to the UK’s creative excellence and vital to the success of our creative industries. They are the engine room of so many things that make the UK the envy of the world, including our music, films, TV programmes, and video games. Universities are places where creative ideas flourish, where innovation happens, and where businesses employing thousands of people are started. They’re where the nation’s creative sparks are ignited.”

As part of the campaign – backed by Radio 1 Breakfast host Greg James – every university in the country was invited to put forward a ‘Creative Spark’ which has had an impact on people’s lives – an individual or project that has made a huge contribution to British arts and culture.

A host of the UK’s leading creative talent has been nominated, including comedians Greg Davies and Nish Kumar, and musician Laura Mvula. These sparks are just some of the examples of how UK universities contribute to the country’s creative excellence.

Sparks including Keith Chapman, Norwich University of the Arts alumni and creator of the Bob the Builder, and Cressida Cowell MBE, University of Oxford alumni and author of How to Train Your Dragon, are calling on the public to recognise and celebrate the impact of university creative courses on the UK’s creative industries:

Keith Chapman, creator of Bob the Builder and PAW Patrol said: “My career would not have been possible without the skills I learned and people I met during my time at university. If the Government wants our creative industries to remain the best in the world, they must show they understand how important creative courses are to their success.”

Click here to read the full list of Creative Sparks, or here to watch the campaign video, voiced by Greg James. You can even play the online game to see which “Creative Spark” you are here.

Creative Sparks celebrated in the campaign include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Greg Davies – Brunel University alumni, comedian and actor
• Keith Chapman – Norwich University of the Arts alumni, creator of popular television programmes such as Bob the Builder and PAW Patrol
• Laura Mvula – Birmingham City University alumni, musician
• Roger Waters and Nick Mason, Pink Floyd – University of Westminster alumni, musicians
• Ruth Wilson – University of Nottingham alumni, actress best known for The Affair, Luther, His Dark Materials, and Mrs Wilson
• Nish Kumar – Durham University alumni, comedian and presenter
• Krysty Wilson-Cairns – Royal Conservatoire of Scotland alumni, co-writer of BAFTA winning movie 1917
• Lisa McGee – Queens University Belfast alumni, screenwriter of Derry Girls
• Steven Knight – UCL alumni, writer and creator of BBC Two’s Peaky Blinders