Arts for the economy’s sake: Milton Keynes College on #STEM vs Creative Skills

Written for FE News by Doctor Julie Mills OBE, CEO & Group Principal, Milton Keynes College

I spend a lot of time promoting STEM subjects, especially when it comes to encouraging girls and women to study them.

With that in mind, it might seem a bit contrary for me to be making the case for the Arts, but the economy really does need a significant portion of both.

First there’s the direct benefit; a study for Arts Council England released in April put the amount of money contributed to the nation’s income (GDP) from arts-based businesses at £10.8 million – that’s more than agriculture.

Culture pays. Our impending departure from the EU means Milton Keynes can no longer dream of being a European Capital of Culture in 2023.

Sceptics about the value of such a title would do well to look at the figures for Liverpool. When that city was Capital of Culture in 2008 it saw an extra three million visitors contributing to a £754 million boost for the local economy.

Read the rest of Julie’s piece here…

Tags:

Further Education Milton Keynes South East Bridge