The campaign’s purpose is to push for creative subjects to be a crucial part of every school’s curriculum. Photo: The MU.
Launched in February 2025, the Arts and Minds Campaign is a coalition of national organisations from across the arts and education sectors. The MU is a founding member, along with the National Education Union (NEU) which leads the campaign. The campaign’s purpose is to push for creative subjects to be a crucial part of every school’s curriculum.
Arts and Minds formed as a reaction to the marginalisation of arts subjects in schools under the previous Government. This was the subject of a motion at the 2023 NEU Conference – powerfully delivered by joint MU-NEU member Victoria Jaquiss – and another similar motion the following year.
Achievements so far
Following the change of Government in July 2024, the new Department for Education (DfE) proposed a Curriculum Review. The Arts and Minds Campaign pushed strongly for reform around arts teaching and learning, and we were pleased that many of our recommendations made to it the Curriculum Review’s final report and were adopted by the Government, as follows:
- A commitment to arts subjects as an entitlement for all pupils
- A commitment to arts-friendly accountability system reforms – including the removal of the EBacc
- A strong emphasis on breadth, representation and inclusion, reflecting a modern society and diverse communities
- An emphasis on teacher autonomy after years of over-centralised direction
- A reduction in exam time as part of a move away from testing culture.
So what comes next?
Rebuilding the arts will depend on developing the classroom teaching workforce – addressing both recruitment and retention – as well as supporting the work of visiting teachers like peripatetic instrumental teachers.
This requires increased investment in teacher training bursaries, which should be restored for all arts subjects – as well as increased funding for schools generally and greater financial support for music hubs, which will soon be part of the new National Centre for Arts and Music Education.
The Government must also stay true to its commitment to change the culture in schools to one where arts subjects can flourish, with more space on the curriculum and an end to the exam factory culture.
What can MU members do?
The Arts and Minds Campaign has produced an open letter to Government summarising the above points. Sign the letter today to make your voice heard.