Boost for global arts education
The future for global arts education looks significantly brighter following the adoption and support of The Seoul Agenda: Goals for the Development of Arts Education by UNESCO.
The Seoul Agenda sets out a series of goals and strategies for the development and delivery of arts education focusing on their use to help resolve many of the social and cultural challenges facing today’s world.
Associate Professor Ralph Buck, Head of Dance Studies at The University of Auckland and current Chair, World Alliance for Arts Education and member of the UNNESCO Arts Education Advisory Committee for the 2nd World Conference on Arts Education, was heavily involved in the drafting of The Seoul Agenda and is excited to see international policy in place that will change expectations of what is required in arts education globally.
“Imagination, creativity and innovation are present in everyone and can be nurtured through ‘arts education’ – a term which has many meanings around the world. Arts education does not always happen in schools. Some of the best arts education occurs outside formal education structures. The adoption and support by UNESCO of The Seoul Agenda is the first time such an action-oriented document on arts education has ever been implemented at this level. It provides clear definitions of what arts education is, while also raising the expectations for what arts education can achieve and highlights the importance of high-quality arts in societies” says Associate Professor Buck.
At the 36th session of the General Conference of UNESCO, 193 member countries voted for The Seoul Agenda and also agreed to designate the fourth week of May as the International Week of Arts Education, as well as support a third World Conference on Arts Education.
“2012 will see the inaugural celebration of the International Week of Arts Education which will provide an exciting focal point for arts organisations and individuals to start arts initiatives and celebrate arts education” says Associate Professor Buck.