Arts Council England data reveals majority of children say creativity is important to them - but barriers remain

A new Arts Council survey has gathered insights from more than 30,000 children and young people across England, exploring how children engage with creativity and culture. 

Children overwhelmingly value creativity, with almost three-quarters (74%) saying being creative is important to them, but barriers to access remain, according to latest research.

The inaugural Creative Young Lives Survey was commissioned by the Arts Council to better understand how children and young people across England partake in creativity and culture.

It is one of the largest surveys of the creative and cultural lives of under-16s to ever be undertaken in England. Around 30,000 children and young people were asked about their creative and cultural experiences, attitudes and aspirations.

The survey examined what kind of creative and cultural activities children took part in regularly, if they did that as part of a group or on their own, where the activities took place and what barriers they faced to doing more.

Creativity is already part of everyday life

• More than eight in ten children have taken part in creative and cultural activities, including arts and crafts, reading and stories, and making or listening to music.

• Around half regularly dance or take part in theatre-based activities or write stories.

• More than four out of five (83%) children have done a digital activity like taking photos, playing a creative video game or creating online content.

There is appetite for more

• 87% of children said they would or may like to do more creative activities like arts and crafts or music.

• Children said creative activities can help them learn something new and develop their skills.

Barriers remain

• Almost a third of respondents (32%) said that cost prevents them from making more visits to cultural places, with more than half (55%) of children saying making creative activities more affordable would help them increase their participation.  

• Four out of ten (38%) of children who don't plan on taking a creative GCSE subject say they aren't interested because they don't think it will help them get the job they want.

• Where children live can affect their access to creative opportunities.

• Children eligible for free school meals are less likely to take part in some creative and cultural activities.

Dawn Airey, Chair, Arts Council England said: “The message from children is clear: they love being creative – from dancing and painting to acting and singing – and they want to experience culture, from the theatre to their local library. But too many children still face barriers, whether that’s the cost of a ticket or simply where they live. This survey gives policymakers and the creative and cultural sector the evidence they need to continue to break down those barriers and ensure the Arts Council can continue to advocate for every child to lead a rich and fulfilled creative life.”

The Creative Young Live Survey forms part of Arts Council England’s work to build a suite of data showing the engagement of arts and culture at every age of society. The survey will be run again in the coming years to allow for comparison and to better understand how engagement is changing over time.

You can read the findings in full here.