History of International Arts Education Week
Following the success of the Second World Conference on Arts Education (Seoul, 2010), the UNESCO’s General Conference at its 36th session in 2011 proclaimed the fourth week of May as International Arts Education Week. The International Arts Education Week aims at increasing the international community’s awareness on the importance of arts education and at reinforcing its co-operation by promoting cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and social cohesion.
On 23 May 2012 Irina Bokova, Director General, United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO), launched the inaugural International Arts Education Week at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris. Attended by leading international arts education scholars and practitioners, this high profile celebration drew attention to the role arts education plays in a global agenda of peace and cultural understanding- The International Arts Education Week was unanimously endorsed by UNESCO’s 182 member states at its November 2011 General Conference (Item 5.13, recalling 35 C/ Resolution 40: On the promotion of arts education.
Following the success of the Second World Conference on Arts Education (Seoul, 2010), the UNESCO’s General Conference at its 36th session in 2011 proclaimed the fourth week of May as International Arts Education Week. The International Arts Education Week aims at increasing the international community’s awareness on the importance of arts education and at reinforcing its co-operation by promoting cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and social cohesion.
On 23 May 2012 Irina Bokova, Director General, United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO), launched the inaugural International Arts Education Week at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris. Attended by leading international arts education scholars and practitioners, this high profile celebration drew attention to the role arts education plays in a global agenda of peace and cultural understanding- The International Arts Education Week was unanimously endorsed by UNESCO’s 182 member states at its November 2011 General Conference (Item 5.13, recalling 35 C/ Resolution 40: On the promotion of arts education.
2020
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In 2020, the World Alliance for Arts Education and its members joins UNESCO in celebrating the week alongside the global arts education community to acknowledge the important role arts education plays in the lives of children and youth, families, and communities during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. |
2021 |
Access the resources produced by UNESCO for 2021 commemorations :
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Future Planning
The promotion of International Arts Education Week by UNESCO has provided the global arts education community with the dates of celebration through 2025. Please find them below:
- May 24-30, 2021
- May 23-29, 2022
- May 22-28, 2023
- May 20-26, 2024
- May 19-25, 2025
Celebrations
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See here the 2012 WAAE press-release for the International Arts Education Week.
In 2016, The World Alliance for Arts Education (WAAE) employed the theme for UNESCO International Arts Education Week, 23-29 May, 2016: Arts Education for Sustainable Development. This theme carried on from International Arts Education Week 2015 and recognised the ongoing importance of arts education in contributing to local and global awareness of cultural, economic, environmental and humanitarian concerns. Arts Education with a core emphasis on doing/making/presenting offers exciting, dynamic, cross generational opportunities for action. The World Alliance for Arts Education proudly advocated for the role that arts educators and artists can have in educating for sustainable development in formal, informal and non-formal education contexts. Please find here the 2016 WAAE information pack for UNESCO International Arts Education Week:
waae_intartsedweekinfopack_reviewed_word_2016.pdf This pack also includes the annual UNESCO International Arts Education Week message. The 2016 message is provided by Li Cunxin. |
