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| Arts Emergency | |
|---|---|
| Name | Arts Emergency |
| Formation | 2013 |
| Type | Charity; Advocacy; Mentoring |
| Headquarters | London |
| Founders | James Hullick; Bryan Forbes |
| Region served | United Kingdom |
Arts Emergency is a United Kingdom-based charity and advocacy network that supports young people from underrepresented backgrounds to access careers and education in the creative and cultural sectors. Founded in 2013, the organisation combines mentoring, bursaries, digital resources and public campaigning to address barriers faced by applicants to institutions such as Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Royal College of Music, Royal College of Art and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Arts Emergency works across sectors represented by institutions including British Film Institute, National Theatre, English National Opera and Tate Modern.
Arts Emergency was established in response to concerns highlighted by figures in British culture and media about unequal access to elite institutions such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Royal Academy of Arts and conservatoires like Royal Academy of Music. Early support and publicity came from high-profile advocates active in networks around The Guardian, BBC, The Stage and campaigns linked to Creative UK and Arts Council England. The charity developed digitally via platforms associated with Facebook, Twitter and university outreach programmes connected to Goldsmiths, University of London, King's College London and University College London. Initial mentoring cohorts included volunteers drawn from alumni of institutions such as Central Saint Martins, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and London School of Economics.
Arts Emergency's mission targets structural inequities affecting applicants to cultural training at organisations like Royal Ballet School, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and Guildhall School. The charity frames its work around widening participation models similar to initiatives at Open University, Access to Music and outreach strands run by Barbican Centre, British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum. Activities include one-to-one mentoring, application support for conservatoire auditions (for example Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Royal Northern College of Music), workshops on portfolios for institutions such as Slade School of Fine Art and mock interviews modeled on processes used by Somerset House and the British Council.
Core programs combine long-term mentorship with targeted financial support and cultural capital building. The mentoring scheme pairs mentees with volunteers drawn from professional communities at Channel 4, BBC Studios, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, Sky UK, The Old Vic and National Film and Television School. Educational initiatives include preparation for admissions to Royal Academy of Dramatic Art auditions, portfolio development for applicants to Goldsmiths, and workshops on application strategies used at Imperial College London for interdisciplinary projects. Grants and bursaries have supported attendance at summer schools run by Royal College of Art and participation in festivals such as Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Latitude Festival. Digital projects have used tools and partnerships associated with Google Arts & Culture and learning platforms employed by Coursera and FutureLearn.
Arts Emergency operates as a registered charity with a governing structure that includes trustees drawn from the creative industries and higher education sector, reflecting governance models used by Wellcome Trust and Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Funding sources have included donations from individuals, philanthropic foundations such as Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and corporate partners in sectors represented by Barclays, HSBC UK and media houses including The Guardian Media Group and Daily Mail and General Trust. Crowdfunding and benefit events have involved artists and institutions like Royal Opera House, Globe Theatre and independent producers from Frieze Art Fair. Financial oversight aligns with reporting practices similar to those followed by Charity Commission for England and Wales registered organisations.
Independent commentary and evaluations have noted measurable outcomes in progression to conservatoires and universities comparable to reports issued by Office for Students and studies conducted by research centres at University of Warwick and Institute of Education. Coverage in outlets such as The Guardian, The Times, Evening Standard, BBC News and specialist journals in arts policy has highlighted both successes and debates over scale and replicability, echoing discussions found in analyses by Demos and think tanks like IPPR. Beneficiaries include students who progressed to training at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Royal College of Music and arts degrees at Goldsmiths, University of London and University of the Arts London.
The organisation collaborates with cultural institutions, training providers and advocacy groups. Strategic partners include Arts Council England, British Film Institute, National Theatre, Tate and higher education providers such as Royal Holloway, University of London. Advocacy work aligns with campaigns by #MoreMusicInSchools-style coalitions, national widening-participation initiatives at Office for Students, and policy debates involving ministers associated with Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Cross-sector alliances have been formed with networks of practitioners from Royal Court Theatre, Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Opera and production companies linked to Film4.
Category:Charities based in London Category:Arts organisations based in the United Kingdom