I WOULD like to say how pleased I am to Mr Bob Burden for bringing to the attention of Bolton taxpayers what a complete waste of time and our money being spent on tuition of youngsters who are led to believe that they are going to be the next Damian Hurst or Tracy Emin.

Before they are taught how to open cans of spaghetti, they should be taught the basics of art, such as drawing, in such a way that the viewer is able to recognise the object. Before this is possible, tutors must be available who can teach these skills, and a careful selection of students who have some talent in art prior to entering art colleges. From visiting the recent degree show, I observed blatant copies of original work by Barbara Hepworth, Brancusi and Henry Moore etc. Is this the way to develop new talent?

To develop the skills required to paint and sculpt requires years of dedication and practice. How long does it take to fill a bath of spaghetti, or to throw paint at a canvas? Art today is more about writing a load of rubbish that is unintelligible to even the finest academics, let alone ordinary people who are paying toward staff wages and upkeep of the colleges.

When these youngsters graduate, what are they going to do for a job? The majority of them will certainly not be employable in the art world.

It was a pleasure to see the work of Bob Burden at the show. What a pity other students cannot follow his example.

(Name and address supplied)