how many people return to art in later life

Sitting in the Gallery today I had several enquiries from elderly visitors about possible art courses which we may provide this year. I shouldn't be judgemental and we do need these people in such hard financial times but I cannot help wondering why now at this time of your life.

Did their parents tell them to follow 'proper'' subjects at school and keep Art for a hobby or did their maths or science teachers say Art is a Micky Mouse subject and extra maths and a third science would be far more useful to them. When we next see our political or industrial leaders asking in desperation 'where are our future creative thinkers coming from' we could probably tell them they are doing double maths or treble science in school.

Sadly these elderly enquirers seeking to feed their creative instincts will probably tell their grandchildren to choose 'proper' subjects when their turn comes.