§ Mr. ChallenTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Government will fulfil its commitment to establish creative partnerships linking schools with arts organisations in disadvantaged areas. [13449]
§ Dr. HowellsThe formal launch of creative partnerships will take place as planned in April 2002, when the funds set aside for this initiative start to flow.
The 16 pilot areas for creative partnerships were announced in February 2002. Since then, Peter Jenkinson, the former Director of the New Art Gallery, Walsall, has taken up the post of National Director of Creative Partnerships, and preparations in the pilot areas are now well under way.