Elkington, Robert (2012) Against the tide : a study of cultural policy change under New Labour with reference to the status and practices of education at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Other thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This thesis was generated by my need to make sense of the times I had lived and worked through within arts education under the New Labour government of 1997-2010. Working as a leader within a small scale Theatre in Education Company and a large scale government initiative designed to develop models for a creative and cultural education, which was without precedent in the UK in terms of ambition and funding, I found myself as an implementer of policy without ever feeling I had a sufficiently strong insight into the policy rationale, which I felt to be frustratingly elusive.

I was curious about the nature of the significant change I observed in the education practice of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Birmingham Royal Ballet - two organisations that seemed far away from the community practice I valued - and how and why this had happened. The scope of this study therefore explores ideas about organisational change.

The thesis begins with a review of the key policy documents that created an enabling environment for change within this field and discusses claims make for the social impact of the arts. I locate these claims in their historical traditions. I then look specifically at the extent, nature and drivers for development in the educational work of the two organisations through ideas drawn from theories of change and suggest significant factors that might account for this change. I conclude by suggesting that leadership is the key to the ongoing development of education work in arts organisations that promote the values of social inclusion and cultural democracy.

Item Type:	Thesis (Other)
Subjects:	J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) > JN101 Great Britain L Education > LC Special aspects of education
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Great Britain -- Cultural policy, Politics and culture -- Great Britain, Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1997-, Labour Party (Great Britain), Royal Shakespeare Company, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Arts -- Study and teaching -- Great Britain
Official Date:	July 2012
Dates:	Date Event July 2012 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Institute of Education
Thesis Type:	Other
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Extent:	186 leaves.
Language:	eng

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