Yes, upskill the next generation but then supercharge them with the arts

Today, as the UK Government announces plans for major education reform, we find ourselves at a moment of enormous cultural change and opportunity. As we prepare young people for a future shaped by artificial intelligence, automation and rapid technological advancement, there is one essential ingredient that risks being overlooked: the arts.

As a new government shapes its long-term vision for the country, arts and culture should not be viewed as a discretionary extra. They are essential infrastructure for a healthy, resilient and prosperous society. The evidence has never been stronger. Creativity helps people connect, recover, learn and thrive. It contributes not only to improved wellbeing, but also to economic growth, thriving town centres, stronger communities and civic pride. If we are prepared to embed the arts into the systems that shape everyday life, we will equip the next generation not only with practical skills, but with the creativity, adaptability, empathy and resilience needed to thrive in an increasingly technological world.

This is not a new idea. After the Second World War, governments understood something profound - rebuilding a nation wasn't just about bricks and mortar, it was about rebuilding people. Investment in the arts became a vital part of that recovery. The Arts Council was established in 1946 with a vision to strengthen communities, support education and ensure that access to great art belonged to everyone, not just a privileged few.

Today, we have an opportunity to show similar ambition. However, while our national cultural institutions remain vital, I believe we need to invest in neighbourhood creativity.

Every community should have access to artists, makers, musicians and creative practitioners working alongside schools, GP surgeries, care homes, libraries, youth services and community organisations. It is often these small, locally led initiatives that create the greatest long-term impact because they are rooted in the people and places they serve.

So what might a genuinely grassroots funding framework look like?

Instead of deciding nationally which organisations receive funding, every town, city and neighbourhood could receive a ring-fenced annual investment in creativity. Local communities would then decide how that funding should be used to address their own priorities.

Based on public feedback from a survey I conducted earlier this year, Market Harborough might choose to invest in creative programmes for older people to tackle loneliness, youth arts projects that provide positive alternatives and reduce antisocial behaviour, artist residencies in schools, and public art celebrating the town's heritage while strengthening pride of place.

The principle becomes simply that 'every place deserves culture', rather than only places with funded organisations. TwoQuArts has started to build a foundation for this with its Art in the Park initiative and Public Art trail.

Success would be measured by whether every person lives within walking distance of meaningful creative opportunities. Just as we recognise access to parks, libraries and healthcare as essential public infrastructure, we should begin to see access to arts and culture in the same way.

Government would set the ambition, but delivery would be local. This reflects what the evidence increasingly tells us - the greatest social benefits of arts and culture come not simply from attending major cultural venues, but from taking part. When people create, perform, make, share and celebrate together, they build stronger relationships, improve wellbeing and develop a stronger sense of belonging.

As education reforms rightly focus on equipping young people with the skills needed for tomorrow's economy, we must ensure that creativity is not left behind. Technical skills will open doors, but it is imagination, curiosity, collaboration and creative thinking that will enable the next generation to navigate a world where many routine tasks will be automated. The arts are not in competition with skills - they amplify them.

If we are serious about building a healthier, more innovative and more resilient Britain, arts and culture must sit alongside education, health and economic development as a national priority. We should be investing in creativity with the same confidence that we invest in digital skills, apprenticeships and infrastructure, recognising that the future will belong not only to those who can use technology, but to those who can imagine what comes next.