Bread and Roses: Arts, Culture and Lifelong Learning

We live in a political climate in which the government of the day has made education and social inclusion two of its principle concerns. As part of this agenda, it has recognised that arts and culture have an important contribution to make, in ways that more formal education and social policy approaches struggle to achieve. Bread and Roses examines this contribution and explores the relationship between arts and culture and lifelong learning, especially in overcoming social exclusion. It assumes that earning a living ought not to be calculated simply in terms of utilitarian skills or private profit and that there is more to life than paid labour. It assumes that the full entitlements of citizenship in a democratic society ought to enhance the quality of people's lives and engage with their imagination and creativity, as well as make space for active participation in civil society. In the light of these assumptions, it looks at what we mean by art and culture and how the provision of lifelong learning through the arts is contributing to the creation of a learning society. It identifies some of the concerns which inform government policies in relation to social exclusion and looks at the recommendations being made to address them. It considers which of these should be supported and where changes are necessary. By way of inspiration, it includes some illustrations of the many terrific activities and achievements in arts and cultural education that are making a positive difference to people's lives.