No barriers to entry’: George the Poet reframes art world for young people with immersive exhibition

Breaking News: A prominent poet has highlighted the important disparity in arts access based on socioeconomic background, emphasizing the detrimental effects on young people and the future of cultural institutions.Evergreen Context: Access to the arts remains a critical issue, with research consistently showing a strong correlation between class background and engagement with creative fields. Studies indicate that affluent individuals are disproportionately represented in the creative industries, while those from working-class backgrounds face barriers to entry and often perceive creative careers as unviable. This trend has led to a decline in the proportion of working-class individuals in artistic professions over several decades. Experts argue that improving access not only benefits young people by fostering mental well-being and self-expression but also ensures the continued relevance and evolution of arts institutions by engaging future generations.