The Arts Emergency Service
| Founded | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Josie Long, Neil Griffiths |
| Focus | Charity |
| Location | |
|
Area served
|
United Kingdom |
|
Key people
|
16- to 24-year-olds |
|
Employees
|
1 |
|
Volunteers
|
500+ |
| Website | arts-emergency |
The Arts Emergency Service is a British charity working with 16- to 19-year-olds in further education from diverse backgrounds. They work with those most able to benefit from, but least able to access higher education in the Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences.
History
In response to increasing tuition fees[1] and the abolition of public funding for the teaching of arts subjects in British universities,[2] the charity was co-founded in 2011 by comedian Josie Long and campaigner Neil Griffiths.[3] They launched with an event at the Hackney Empire,[4][5][6] in the London borough that hosted their pilot project in 2012.
Work
The AES run a national 'alternative' Old Boy Network[7] that aims to create privilege for people without privilege and counter the myth that universities, and in particular arts degrees, are the domain of the middle and upper classes. Their volunteers come from TV, film, music, art, fashion, academia, law, architecture, activism, comedy, social work, journalism, publishing, design, activism and theatre.
AES members include the journalists Polly Toynbee and Laurie Penny; artist duo Jake & Dinos Chapman, authors Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore, poet Scroobius Pip, comedians Stephen K Amos, Stewart Lee and Shappi Khorsandi.[8] Working with a trained mentor for one year, students pursue a personal goal and explore options in Higher Education and the creative and professional worlds. Longer term, they are able to access information, advice and guidance through the Charity's volunteer network.[citation needed]
Press coverage
- Indie queen of comedy Josie Long won't just sit on the Fence, The Herald (Glasgow)
- Stand-up to help students with new charity, The Guardian
- What's the point of art school? Revolution, of course, The Guardian
- Stand Up For Students, The Sunday Times
- In Praise of Stridency, The New Statesman
References
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