Eyre: British children lacking in arts

LONDON, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Sir Richard Eyre, who heads up Britain's National Theater, says the country's children are not being appropriately exposed to the arts and culture.

Eyre said a prevailing belief that the arts are only for certain people means Britain's next generation could face cultural "apartheid," The Observer reported Sunday.

"My fears are that you enlarge the divisions in society between those for whom the arts are a part of life and people who think it is impossibly obscure and incomprehensible," Eyre said. "I would use the word apartheid."

Eyre blames the lack of artistic exposure among the country's youth on both the BBC and a scholastic focus on testing rather than drama or music.

The theater official said that by failing to provide children with artistic programs, school officials and the British broadcaster are both guilty of not inspiring the next generation.

Yet former Education Secretary Estelle Morris has defended the current scholastic program, saying arts have remained a prevalent part of funding and education efforts across Britain.