Class Inequality in the Arts

Lord Sherbourne of Didsbury Excerpts

Thursday 5th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The apprenticeship piece is a critical part of making sure that it is not just who you know but what your future potential is. We are doing this by focusing on making sure that we get world-class vocational training. As well as apprenticeships, we are doing things such as making sure we have a BRIT School in Bradford, which is opening in 2028. It will provide 500 free places for 16 to 19 year-olds, which will break down the barriers to elite art education.

One of the things that comes through the report—which I agree was an interesting, if sobering, read—and some of the narrative around it was that too many children do not know that these careers are open to them, so we are also investing in making sure that there are careers opportunities and advice for young people that get them to know that these careers are open to them. That is the first step to breaking down the barriers we should be breaking down, even before we start looking at increasing the apprenticeship offer. It is no use offering careers if people do not know they exist and do not take them up.

[Lord Sherbourne of Didsbury (Con)]

The Minister just talked about the barriers that are denying access to the arts for disadvantaged pupils and students. For our information, can she helpfully spell out exactly what those barriers are and what precisely the Government are doing to remove them?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I would probably far exceed the 75-word response we are supposed to give if I went through all the barriers. However, they include lack of access to parental networks, not knowing about the opportunities in the first place and schools not having creative education, which is why I referred to the fact that the curriculum review is focused on arts and why the Secretary of State for Culture is focused on increasing access to music opportunities, including through music in libraries. I could go on, but I hope that some of the other issues that we are trying to deal with will come through in other responses.