One of Britain\u2019s leading university vice-chancellors has described sweeping cuts to arts and humanities across the sector as \u201cabsolutely tragic\u201d, citing her famous daughter as an example of the value of a creative arts education.<\/p>\n
Prof Evelyn Welch, the vice-chancellor of Bristol University and incoming chair of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities, is the mother of Florence Welch, the singer-songwriter from Florence + the Machine.<\/p>\n
Florence enrolled on an art foundation course at Camberwell College of Arts<\/a> before leaving to pursue music. While her post-art school trajectory is exceptional, her mother believes \u201cthe rigour, the get-out-of-bed-by-seven-o\u2019clock-every-morning and the feedback on how to control your creativity\u201d was integral to her success.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no question, a degree in fine arts or in drama or creative practice, initially, 18 months after you graduate, does not look like it\u2019s giving you a great return on your investment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, I take a really personal view on this. My oldest daughter is the only child in my family who really is making a very significant amount of money.\u201d<\/p>\n The others in her blended family of six children have forged successful careers in professions including medicine and teaching.<\/p>\n The Guardian revealed<\/a> on Tuesday that thousands of university job cuts across the arts, humanities and social sciences were creating widespread academic cold spots, closing down opportunities for often disadvantaged young people.<\/p>\n Florence Welch, who attended Camberwell College of Arts, performs at the Cala Mijas festival in Spain in 2023. Photograph: Bianca de Vilar\/WireImage<\/p>\n Universities facing financial difficulties owing to the diminishing value of domestic tuition fees and a drop in international student numbers because of visa restrictions have been forced to make cuts to staff and courses, which have fallen disproportionately on arts and humanities departments.<\/p>\n A recent government announcement of cuts to the strategic priorities grant, which is intended to support high-cost subjects where the cost of delivery exceeds income from tuition fees, will further hit creative and performing arts.<\/p>\n \u201cGovernment is making really difficult decisions,\u201d said Welch, who takes over at the Russell Group in August. \u201cBut in the long run, undermining the creativity in our country is foolish because we are really good at it.\u201d<\/p>\n Welch, a professor of Renaissance studies and the author of Shopping in the Renaissance, a prize-winning book, added: \u201cI have a real concern that when you are only measuring employability at a very early stage in someone\u2019s life you are missing the growth and the success that take place after that.<\/p>\n \u201c[Florence] was going to go on and do a BA in illustration. Certainly not everyone has to decide between becoming a pop star and doing a BA in illustration, and not everyone is as successful. I tease her sometimes and say there\u2019s still time to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n