Lord Lloyd Webber calls for more arts investment

19 October 2012, 10:36

Andrew Lloyd Webber has told the House Of Lords his views on arts investment and arts education.

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber has added his voice to the arts education funding debate. Speaking at the House Of Lords debate on 'Excellence In Education', commented: "Funding arts education should be regarded as a serious investment by Government and not an item for cutting."

The comments come after the announcement from the Department of Education that GCSEs are to be scrapped in favour of English Baccalaureates, wherein the arts are not among the core subjects.

Lloyd Webber joins the likes of Nicola Benedetti and Chetham's Director of Music Stephen Threlfall in the ongoing debate surrounding funding to arts education. Benedetti voiced her concerns in her Classic BRIT Award acceptance speech, while Threlfall called for a more proactive approach to a difficult situation.

He also added: "I would like to remind the Government in the 50th anniversary year of the Beatles that every penny spent on arts education has historically produced enormous returns to the Exchequer."

Lloyd Webber also spoke about new awards ceremonies in education designed to acknowledge excellence in all fields, not just the arts.