This book comprises the responses of a group of multi-disciplinary writers/ researchers/practitioners to the proposition that arts education in the twentyfirst century has become industrialised. Historical and contemporary examples of how arts education prepares students for working in industry are discussed to show how the expectations of educators, students and industry representatives do not always concur. The extent to which arts pedagogies have been informed by the agendas of the cultural industries as well as wider neoliberal ideologies are also considered. This leads to questions about the function and value of arts education. The debates expose tensions of producing students who are ‘industryready’ in an educational context that must, at the same time, consider other issues such as sustainability and widening participation. Writers, educators and researchers in vocational education, creative writing, jewellery design, animation, fashion branding and popular music investigate the complexities relating to this topic from their own diverse points of view.
