The Value of Creative Education & Skills
1. Transferable Skills for Life & Work
Creative education develops a wide range of transferable skills that are highly valued across all sectors:
86% of employers ranked creativity as one of the top soft skills they seek in job candidates.
– World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report 2023
Creative thinking was ranked as the #2 most important skill for the future of work by 2027.
– World Economic Forum, 2023
2. Employability & Economic Contribution
The creative industries are fast-growing and offer diverse career opportunities.
In 2023, the UK’s creative industries contributed over £126 billion to the economy.
– DCMS, UK Government
The UK creative industries employ over 2.3 million people, with job growth in this sector outpacing the wider economy.
– Creative Industries Federation
Globally, the creative economy represents 3.1% of global GDP and nearly 50 million jobs worldwide.
– UNESCO Creative Economy Report, 2022
Creative subjects like art and design provide a foundation for careers in:
3. Impact on Young People
Creative learning supports academic achievement, wellbeing, and future pathways.
Students who study arts subjects are more likely to do well in school, have higher attendance, and show better engagement and motivation
– Cultural Learning Alliance, 2021
Participation in the arts is linked to improved mental health, confidence, and communication skills
– Arts Council England
Young people with arts-rich educational experiences are five times more likely to engage in further study or careers in the creative sector
– Durham Commission on Creativity in Education
Students who study arts subjects are more likely to:
“Children from low-income families who engage in the arts are three times more likely to get a degree.”
— Cultural Learning Alliance
Students involved in sustained arts education are 5x more likely to go on to creative careers.
— Durham Commission on Creativity in Education, 2019
4. Lifelong Benefits for Adults
Adult Creativity = Lifelong Learning, Mental Health & Employability
Mental & Emotional Benefits:
Creative practice isn’t just for the young—it supports mental health, lifelong learning, and career flexibility.
Adults engaged in creative activities report lower stress levels, better focus, and increased happiness.
– Mental Health Foundation UK
Adult learners developing creative skills are better equipped for portfolio careers, self-employment, and entrepreneurial ventures.
– Nesta & Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre
5. Creative Education
Access to creative learning plays a role in reducing inequality and broadening career horizons:
“Cultural participation reduces social exclusion and builds bridges across age, class, and ethnicity.”
— UNESCO Creative Economy Report, 2022
Summary: Why It Matters
Creative knowledge and skills:
Creative education develops a wide range of transferable skills that are highly valued across all sectors:
- Problem-solving
- Critical and lateral thinking
- Teamwork and communication
- Innovation and risk-taking
- Self-management and resilience
86% of employers ranked creativity as one of the top soft skills they seek in job candidates.
– World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report 2023
Creative thinking was ranked as the #2 most important skill for the future of work by 2027.
– World Economic Forum, 2023
2. Employability & Economic Contribution
The creative industries are fast-growing and offer diverse career opportunities.
In 2023, the UK’s creative industries contributed over £126 billion to the economy.
– DCMS, UK Government
The UK creative industries employ over 2.3 million people, with job growth in this sector outpacing the wider economy.
– Creative Industries Federation
Globally, the creative economy represents 3.1% of global GDP and nearly 50 million jobs worldwide.
– UNESCO Creative Economy Report, 2022
Creative subjects like art and design provide a foundation for careers in:
- Graphic design, animation, illustration
- Architecture and product design
- Fashion and textiles
- Advertising and marketing
- Film, TV, media and publishing
- Education, community arts and therapy
- UX/UI design and digital content creation
3. Impact on Young People
Creative learning supports academic achievement, wellbeing, and future pathways.
Students who study arts subjects are more likely to do well in school, have higher attendance, and show better engagement and motivation
– Cultural Learning Alliance, 2021
Participation in the arts is linked to improved mental health, confidence, and communication skills
– Arts Council England
Young people with arts-rich educational experiences are five times more likely to engage in further study or careers in the creative sector
– Durham Commission on Creativity in Education
Students who study arts subjects are more likely to:
- Achieve better academic results
- Show greater school attendance and engagement
- Be more confident and expressive
- The arts promote emotional development, mental health, and interpersonal skills.
“Children from low-income families who engage in the arts are three times more likely to get a degree.”
— Cultural Learning Alliance
Students involved in sustained arts education are 5x more likely to go on to creative careers.
— Durham Commission on Creativity in Education, 2019
4. Lifelong Benefits for Adults
Adult Creativity = Lifelong Learning, Mental Health & Employability
Mental & Emotional Benefits:
- Stress relief, mindfulness, and self-expression
- Improved memory and cognition
- Enhanced self-esteem and reduced isolation
Creative practice isn’t just for the young—it supports mental health, lifelong learning, and career flexibility.
Adults engaged in creative activities report lower stress levels, better focus, and increased happiness.
– Mental Health Foundation UK
Adult learners developing creative skills are better equipped for portfolio careers, self-employment, and entrepreneurial ventures.
– Nesta & Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre
5. Creative Education
Access to creative learning plays a role in reducing inequality and broadening career horizons:
- Arts programmes can level the playing field for disadvantaged young people
- Community-based creative education encourages intergenerational learning and social cohesion
- In deprived areas, creative hubs and workshops have led to higher youth employment and engagement
“Cultural participation reduces social exclusion and builds bridges across age, class, and ethnicity.”
— UNESCO Creative Economy Report, 2022
Summary: Why It Matters
Creative knowledge and skills:
- Foster adaptive, resilient thinkers needed in an ever-changing job market
- Fuel the UK’s booming creative economy
- Equip individuals with tools for personal expression, communication, and wellbeing
- Open the door to both traditional careers and emerging opportunities in digital and design sectors