Council funds bold new arts bursary for local young people

20 February 2018

Students from Ark All-Saints Academy, in Camberwell, celebrated the launch of the council’s new Arts Bursary scheme, with Harriet Harman MP, Cllr Johnson Situ, Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Social Regeneration and Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, on 20 February.

The new bursary scheme reflects the values of the council’s Cultural Strategy, which puts creativity at the heart of everything the council does. Southwark Council will be working with the University of the Arts London, specifically Camberwell College of Arts, responding to the drop in the number of young people taking creative GCSEs, especially those from less affluent families.

The council has committed £25,000, to provide ten bursaries of £2,500, for students coming to the college from neighbouring Southwark secondary schools.

The bursaries will provide an incentive for young people to consider arts subjects at the college. They will help to cover the cost of materials, trips to exhibitions and necessary technology for the course, during the 2018/19 academic year.

Applicants must meet the university’s criteria as being in need of financial support and have completed studies at one of four Southwark secondary schools*.

Cllr Johnson Situ said: “It is great to be here at Ark All-Saints Academy today, celebrating the launch of this innovative new arts bursary with some of the young people we hope it will inspire.

“There is an exciting, burgeoning arts scene here in Southwark and this bursary will nurture creative talent and support young people, helping to forge early pathways into one of the largest growing sectors in the UK.”

Harriet Harman, MP for Camberwell and Peckham, said: “Southwark Council’s new grant for local young people going to Camberwell College of Arts will provide important opportunities for the hugely talented young people of Camberwell and Peckham to get involved in the arts, open up career choices, enhance the diversity of the student body and build on Southwark’s already vibrant arts scene.

“I am delighted to support this scheme and look forward to working with local schools and Southwark Council to make this a success for the local community.”

David Crow, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon colleges, UAL, said: “This scheme will directly support young people in the borough who might not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue arts higher education, and ultimately enable the creative industries to attract the new local talent that we very much value and need.

“UAL’s outreach work encourages local schoolchildren to develop careers within the arts and we are happy to work with Southwark Council to welcome more students from the local community to Camberwell College of Arts.”

Page last updated: 20 February 2018