Visualise: Race & Inclusion in Secondary School Art Education

Visualise: Race & Inclusion in Secondary School Art Education is a 2024 report published by Runnymede Trust and Freelands Foundation examining the state of race in art education in England. 

The report confirms what art educators have been saying for years: that art education is at crisis point. Despite their best efforts, teachers and students are rooted in an education system that is failing to nurture diverse art practices.

The research exposes significant under-representation of minority ethnic artists in school curricula. Only 8.4% of artists referenced in exam assessment materials are minority ethnic, and just 2.3% of artists referenced in GCSE Art papers are from Black (1.54%) or South Asian (0.74%) backgrounds.

The research found a strong desire amongst teachers and students to diversify teaching content and improve experiences of art education for all. But teachers are under pressure, overworked, and under-resourced. Art education in schools remains overwhelmingly narrow in terms of curriculum content and exam assessment. 

For further questions related to the report, email [email protected].

Runnymede Trust is the UK’s leading independent race equality think tank. They generate intelligence to challenge race inequality in Britain through research, network building, leading debate, and policy engagement.

Runnymede is working to build a Britain in which all citizens and communities feel valued, enjoy equal opportunities, lead fulfilling lives, and share a common sense of belonging. 

In order to effectively overcome racial inequality in our society, Runnymede believes that democratic dialogue, policy, and practice, should all be based on reliable evidence from rigorous research and thorough analysis. Their authoritative research-based interventions in social policy and practice, and public engagement with decision makers, will assist policymakers, practitioners, and citizens, to reduce the risk of society being blighted by racism and discrimination to the detriment of us all.