The Arts in Schools - Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

at the centre on a regular basis. The classes are taken byprofessional teachers and the aim is to provide for youngpeople of 14+ who might want to pursue a professionalcareer in the arts or in teaching and to give them a firmbackground of techniques and confidence to prepare themfor this. The courses are aimed specifically at young peoplewho have not had sufficient opportunities to develop theirabilities to the necessary standards and who cannot affordpersonal tuition elsewhere. The classes cost 65p per sessionin 1981. Scholarships are available through a special fundfor those in particular financial need. Students must berecommended by a teacher and show a serious intention topursue the course regularly. Once accepted they follow aprofessional regime of work. One important effect of thisis to test the strength of their own ambitions and commitmentin this work. Classes are divided into Beginners, Intermediateand Advanced groups and the College now works atits present capacity of 100 students on Sunday. There arealso classes for younger children from 3—13 on Saturdays.As the scheme has progressed there have been two majordevelopments. First, some of the students have now becomeinvolved in running classes with the younger age groups andbeginners, passing on the skills which they have acquired atthe College. Second, the senior students have now formed aperformance group, Fusion: The London and CommonwealthYouth Ensemble, taking its own work in drama, dance andmusic to community groups, youth centres and other venues.235 Harnessingresources138Such schemes emphasise the value of harnessing all availableexisting resources to help make the new provision we urge.There are five areas of resource available, besides that offurther education. They are: professional arts groups andindividual artists; the youth service; voluntary arts agencies;specialist youth information agencies; broadcasting. Professionalarts support can be arranged direct with individualartists or companies, as described in Chapter 7; throughregional arts associations; and through education schemesbeing developed by many arts bodies such as the RoyalOpera House and Whitechapel Art Gallery. Voluntary artsresources range from semi-official bodies like the RoyalSociety of Arts to many different kinds of communityarts group including printshops, theatre groups, and artscentres. Youth information agencies include the NationalYouth Bureau and British Youth Council, both governmentfunded, and the privately sponsored Youthaid. The importantpossibilities of broadcasting, with its ability to reach youngpeople directly, are being developed by the main broadcastingservices and by special young adult media appointments