Prince Charles has launched “a call to action” to find ways of tempting children away from the TV and introduce them to more cultural pursuits. Buckingham Palace was filled with children and celebrities on Thursday as The Prince of Wales Art and Kids Foundation, a brainchild of the heir to the throne, got underway.
The Prince was joined by a host of famous names from the worlds of TV and cinema, including Joanna Lumley, Richard E Grant, Griff Rhys Jones and Joely Richardson.
Also at the Palace for the festivities, which included performances by both professional artists and children, was Moulin Rouge and Strictly Ballroom director Baz Luhrmann, another driving force behind the campaign. “The arts is not an optional extra for children,” Baz said, adding: “Every single child, as a fundamental reality, should be exposed to that which reveals to them who we are and what we are.”
Referring to the internationally renowned director’s comments about his own humble beginnings, Prince Charles provoked laughter when he said: “Baz said he was born in a little house in the middle of nowhere. I was born in an enormous house in the middle of somewhere, and look at me – look at him. He’s much more successful.
“The arts have the power to shape lives, provide inspiration and awaken talent,” he continued. “They should not be seen as an optional extra for children, or as an exercise in elitism. I strongly believe that every child, whatever his or her circumstances, should have the chance to be exposed to excellence.”
Charles also revealed that his own interest in the arts was inspired after his late grandmother, the Queen Mum, took him to see a performance by the Royal Ballet when he was just seven years old. “The arts are a window on the world that can capture a child’s imagination and let it grow,” he said.
One of the foundation’s aims is to enable 10,000 children to take in a theatre production by the end of March 2003. Initial support for the movement has come from a £1 million grant from the Millennium Commission plus corporate support from Powergen.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
