Action for Children's Arts to launch UK’s first Manifesto for Children’s Arts at their Annual Conference this July

Action for Children’s Arts, the UK's only umbrella body speaking for all arts organisations involved in providing arts for and with children, has announced that the most important annual conference in its 10 year history will be held at The Unicorn Theatre London on 21 July. This is open to all who work in the field of arts for children or who have an interest in the subject

The exact programme of events is still to be finalised but will include speeches by Camila Batmanghelidjh (founder of the ‘Kids Company’ charity) and Michelle Magorian (author of many books for children, including the highly acclaimed ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’). Terry Jones (writer, broadcaster, performer and ‘Python’) will also chair a ‘Question Time’ session with a panel made up of key figures from the worlds of education and the arts. Beverley Hughes Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, Jeremy Hunt, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, Don Foster, Liberal Democrat spokesman on Culture, Media and Sport and Shami Chakrabarti, Director Liberty will also be taking part in the discussions.

Most importantly ACA will launch the UK’s first ‘Manifesto for Children’s Arts’ based on consultation with children and adults across the UK. The manifesto aims to raise awareness of the key role that the arts play in children’s lives, contribute to current discussion about childhood in the UK and campaign for action. The whole question of arts for children is of course, very much in the news at the moment since the Government announced recently that in future they want all school children in the UK to receive 5 hours a week of culture.

David Wood, Chairman of Action for Children’s Arts, said today that ACA was delighted that the Government’s Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families would be attending together with representatives of the other two major parties. He hoped they would hear the views of so many top professionals working in all fields of the arts involving children and so be able to incorporate some of the Manifesto’s ideas into the Government’s forthcoming arts policy and in the other party’s commitments to children’s arts.  
 
Other guests attending the conference will include ACA Patrons: Joanna MacGregor (international concert pianist), Malorie Blackman (author of Noughts & Crosses), Jamila Gavin (author of Coram Boy) and Lynne Reid Banks (author of Indian in the Cupboard) plus Louise de Winter, Director, National Campaign For The Arts, Anna Home, OBE, Chief Executive, Children’s Film & Television Foundation, Patrick Spottiswoode, Director Globe Education and Lyn Gardner, Guardian Theatre critic, all of whom will take part in discussion groups with conference delegates exploring issues raised in the Manifesto.Full conference details are on the ACA website.

Tickets are available from the Unicorn Theatre 020 7645 0560 - organisations £100, individuals £80 & ACA members £55 - bursaries are available – please ask box office for details.

Further information from Judith Cheston Publicity 01608 661198 jcheston@tiscali.co.uk

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