Proposed cuts to the funding of university arts courses have come under criticism by a Sheffield charity.
Artworks, an organisation that revolves around learning disabilities and Autism, relies heavily on university students in Sheffield and there is a fear that the cuts may impact them.
Emma Harnett, from Artworks said: “Arts courses are really important for us because we rely heavily on them to recruit our staff and its really important for our standard of work.
“There have also been a lot of experiences that have been great like paid opportunities come through these courses”.
The government’s proposed plans earlier this month indicated a 50% cut to funding of arts subjects in English universities due to ‘strategic’ plans.
The office for students, the students regulator in England said the strategic priority of the government in funding does not include subjects such as arts, media studies and archaeology.
It follows the announcement earlier that the renowned department of Archaeology at the University of Sheffield could close down due to funding problems and lack of investment.
A petition has also been set up following the proposals with the Public Campaign for Arts calling it ‘an attack on the future of UK arts’.
Criticism has been growing for the lack of support for the arts in general and cuts to local arts services since the beginning of the pandemic.
For Harnett, there are fears that this may make arts less inclusive. She said: “it could become a very elitist sort of course where only people who can afford to can do it because of the lack of opportunities.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said the proposed reforms would only affect a small proportion of the income of higher institutions.
It stresses that funding being cut from £36 million to £19 million will re-direct money into other areas such as nursing and computing.