“The Arts in Education Charter: Context and Potential”

Talk by Professor John CoolahanAt

CNCI Conference, Lighting A FireNational Gallery of Ireland, 19 April 2013

The Arts in Education Charter (2013)

Some Aspects of the Background• 1979 “The Place of the Arts in Irish Education”Arts Council consultative committee to liaise with D. of Ed.

planning committee for arts in ed.- Climate of recession – official inaction- Action on the ground - fragmented• June 2008 “Points of Alignment” – Committee had support of

DES, D. of Arts and Arts Council- wide ranging inputs- Climate of recession - official inaction- Action on the ground - fragmented.

“The Changing Context” – Position Paper (2008)

• Curricular reforms; Role of ICT; Role of Education Centres, Role of T. Ed.; Artists – School Guidelines (2006) etc.• Changing Attitudes towards Childhood – Strategy; Ombudsman, Minister

for Children etc.• Gov. Depts – Dept of the Arts (1993); Heritage Council (1995) Local

Authority Arts Officers, DES; Min. for Children• 1998 CNCI; 2004 ECO• Expanded range of Arts organisations Education, (163)• Increased Research on Arts Education Audit• Impact of New Technologies for Arts Education• Favourable Economic Situation• Flowering of the Arts in Irish Society• Public Valuing of Arts for Education (2006).

The Context 2013

• Most of 2008 features still in evidence• Unfavourable economic situation• Increased experience of organisations and artists

involved – much ‘best practice’• Developed role of Local Authorities’ Arts • High level of Commitment by Personnel• Arrival of RTE Jr – multifaceted (15 April 2013)• Junior Cycle Curriculum Reform in hand• Expanded provision in ITE and CPD• Impatience for Progress.

Sustaining the Concern (2008-13)

• Resilience of Arts Organisations• Crucial Role of Arts Council• Sequence of Conferences e.g. “Creating

Conversations”; “Youth-Culture: FYI”; “Encountering the Arts”

• Engagement of new organisations such as Encountering the Arts Ireland (ETAI); Association for Creativity and Arts in Education (ACAE).

The Arts in Education Charter

• Links back to Points of Alignment Report• “In 2011, on coming to office, we resolved, as

Ministers with responsibility for this area of converged interest, to prioritise action on Arts in Education”.

• “As signatories of this Charter we have worked hard to draw up a practical Charter, and are envisioning a future alignment centred on the students. We are committed to maintaining this Charter up to date, and to achieving its objectives” (p.3).

Ministers’ Commitments.

Significance of Charter

• First time a joint commitment made • Commitment to a specific range of Projects• A Partnership approach with Arts Council and arts

organisations• Consultative process – open to change and development• Charter to be in-built in system for long-term • Linkages will be promoted to other relevant Departments,

incl. Min. for Children• Regular reportage on implementation progress• Improving co-ordination, collaboration, mapping of

activities.

Potential of Charter

• Symbolically an important initiative• Financially, a modest initiative • Potentially a supportive bulwark for effort • Potential buy-in by private sector• Can identify areas of weakness and initiate remedial action• Can use its good offices to create synergies with greater

impact than fragmented efforts• Potential can be incremental, particularly when national

economy recovers• “Creativity” as Ireland’s brand image.

Work of the Implementation Group (1)

• 4 Meetings to Date• Analysis of brief• Instituting planning of some key initiatives e.g.

Arts Rich Schools; the Arts Education Portal; Artists in Residence, engagement of Education Centres etc

• Communicating with various agencies.

Work of the Implementation Group (2)

• Input from Arts Council Ed and Youth section• Planning for meetings with key stakeholders• No specific budget• Seeking to maximise input from existing

resources• Initiating efforts at seeking sponsorship• Reflecting on Mapping process of the Arts -

Education• Report to, and advise Ministers regularly.

Attitude of Implementation Group

• Aim to give leadership and support for initiatives• Operating a partnership approach with

stakeholders• Open to suggestions and proposals to enhance

the Charter• Aim to affirm achievements and foster

collaboration• Aim to promote a higher profile for the arts in

education.

Realising the Potential

• Not a Panacea for all problems: but has potential • Get Charter as an integral part of the Arts – Education

scene for future • Respect for Arts Organisations and Art Educators• Key aim to serve better needs of young people

throughout the country• Charter as a facilitating, stimulating, supportive agency• Seize the opportunity• “Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine” – “Ní neart go

chur le chéile.”