1,000 signatures reached
To: Sean McNamara (Chair of the Federation of Drama Schools), Linda Merrick (Chair of Conservatoires UK) & Sally Mapstone (President of Universities UK)
Break Down Barriers to the Performing Arts: Abolish Audition Fees
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The future of the creative and performing arts is under threat. Sky-high course costs are denying the actors, singers, dancers, designers, directors and performers of the future the education and training they need to enter the industry.
No one should have to pay to train, and everyone should have the opportunity to pursue their talents no matter their background. We need arts and culture which reflect the diversity of voices and experiences which make-up society.
Sign our petition to demand institutions with creative and performing arts courses:
- Scrap audition fees
- End hidden course costs
- Cover expenses for accessing auditions and open days
Why is this important?
Our research has found performing arts students are struggling to pay audition fees and course costs, pushing working-class students out of the industry.
Two-thirds of students receiving maintenance loans say they do not cover their living costs, with three-quarters having to work alongside intense training schedules and 15% going into debt.
96% have been told to spend their own money on expenses such as headshots, costumes, and events as a requirement of their course. While 94% of us had to audition to gain a place on a course, 57% had to pay audition fees to do so.
Audition fees and hidden costs put two-thirds of working-class students off from applying for training, with many students spending hundreds of pounds, and some thousands, on auditions and applications.
We also know the solutions: 71% say that removing audition fees would be the most effective way to break down barriers to the performing arts.
How it will be delivered
We will deliver the petition to the offices of Universities UK & Conservatoires UK in Woburn House, 20 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9HQ as well as the Federation of Drama Schools in LIPA, Mount Street, Liverpool, L1 9HF