Government assault on arts turning higher education into 'arid desert'

The union was responding to the government's announcement that it will cut funding for creative arts courses and widening access programmes.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'The government's assault on the arts is already having a devastating impact on creative courses, and risks turning higher education into an arid desert of courses designed solely to meet employability metrics. Arts subjects are increasingly becoming the preserve of the rich and this latest attack will further shut down opportunities for working class students. Vice-chancellors need to stop closing courses and fight attempts to devalue the arts. Meanwhile, we need an incoming Labour government to reinstate full levels of high-cost subject support for arts subjects and for proper investment in careers advice for students to ensure everyone has access to the life-changing potential of university.'