THERE needs to be a radical shift in thinking to attract creative graduates and boost the art provision in Guernsey, according to an arts commissioner.

Chairman of the public art sub-committee, Eric Snell said the island had suffered from ‘cultural rigor mortis’ for years as artists and designers had left the island for cities.

‘The government aren’t addressing this. There are no bursaries to encourage them to come back to set up small workshops. The island is devoid of any initiatives,’ he said.

A survey released yesterday by Education showed that very few graduates wanted to return to the island on a permanent basis after university.

Of those asked, 36% said they did not intend to return and a further 40% said they were uncertain.

Out of these, 81% said that employment opportunities elsewhere were tempting them away.

The most popular area of study for Guernsey graduates is the creative arts, but the report suggested that they found the island restrictive because they felt it did not offer them appropriate career options.

‘We must remember that this survey was run before the credit crunch took hold,’ said researcher Ellie Rose.

‘But it seems to me that we need to make more of the creative opportunities that do exist on the island if we want to attract bright young graduates back.’