Celebrating Creativity: A Call to Bring Art Back to Education

At the Heath Robinson Museum, we commend the Royal Academy for their passionate call to protect and promote art education in schools. Art is a serious subject

As an institution dedicated to the work of William Heath Robinson—a master of inventive imagination—we fully support the RA’s message that art is a serious, essential subject in education.

Heath Robinson’s work was a celebration of creativity, humour, and the beauty of unconventional thinking. His whimsical inventions remind us that creativity isn’t just for artists; it’s a skill that sparks innovation, resilience, and joy across all areas of life. Through his legacy, we see how art teaches young minds to approach challenges from unique perspectives and to think flexibly—qualities that grow in art classrooms but are just as valuable in the workplace and beyond.

Like the RA, we are concerned that art is too often considered an “easy option” and side-lined in favour of other subjects. Heath Robinson would have seen this as a miscalculation, perhaps responding with one of his famously complex machines to deliver art supplies and inspiration directly to students! His work, after all, reminds us that creativity thrives where there’s room for exploration and play, and that a rigid, one-size-fits-all curriculum risks stifling the very skills we need most in today’s world.

We stand with the Royal Academy in urging for art’s return to classrooms, not just for the sake of future artists but for the thinkers, innovators, and makers of tomorrow. The Heath Robinson Museum pledges to support this vital mission and invites our community to join in advocating for a well-rounded education that celebrates art’s irreplaceable role.