On March 6, 2006, the World Alliance for Arts Education was formed through a partnership between three arts education organisations: the International Drama/Theatre and Education Association (IDEA), the International Society for Education through Art (InSEA) and the International Society for Music Education (ISME). Together, they wrote the JOINT DECLARATION,signed during the InSEA world congess in Viseu, Portugal. Our collective voice convinced UNESCO to include art educators in their Roadmap for Arts Education.
Within two years, the World Dance Alliance ( WDA) joined WAAE to make a wide representation across drama, dance, music and visual arts education.
Ever since then we have been advocating for strong arts education everywhere. At times this has meant writing letters to politicians, while at other times it has meant providing professional development. It has always meant a coming together of local and international arts educators working together for the advancement of arts education.
For instance, in 2014, WAAE held its 5th Arts Education World Summit in Brisbane, Australia with delegates from dozens of countries. At that particular summit, the delegation made a strong resolution that was sent to the Australian government in regard to cuts that were happening to arts education. We were able to make a difference to funding arts education in Australia.
Furthermore, the 4th WAAE Summit was held in Rovaniemi, Finland in November 2012 where we brought together over 100 delegates from 28 countries representing art, dance, drama and music.
In May 2013 we partnered with the International Network for Research in Arts Education (INRAE) and ACENet to launch Polylogue II: Global Summit on Arts Education in Wildbad Kreuth, Germany. At this conference we were able to bring together over 140 art, dance, drama and music educators from around the globe to discuss issues and research perspectives of mutual interest.
While the WAAE Forum (committee of four Presidents or their delegates) continue to address the recommendations of these summits and meetings we continue to focus on the following:
Within two years, the World Dance Alliance ( WDA) joined WAAE to make a wide representation across drama, dance, music and visual arts education.
Ever since then we have been advocating for strong arts education everywhere. At times this has meant writing letters to politicians, while at other times it has meant providing professional development. It has always meant a coming together of local and international arts educators working together for the advancement of arts education.
For instance, in 2014, WAAE held its 5th Arts Education World Summit in Brisbane, Australia with delegates from dozens of countries. At that particular summit, the delegation made a strong resolution that was sent to the Australian government in regard to cuts that were happening to arts education. We were able to make a difference to funding arts education in Australia.
Furthermore, the 4th WAAE Summit was held in Rovaniemi, Finland in November 2012 where we brought together over 100 delegates from 28 countries representing art, dance, drama and music.
In May 2013 we partnered with the International Network for Research in Arts Education (INRAE) and ACENet to launch Polylogue II: Global Summit on Arts Education in Wildbad Kreuth, Germany. At this conference we were able to bring together over 140 art, dance, drama and music educators from around the globe to discuss issues and research perspectives of mutual interest.
While the WAAE Forum (committee of four Presidents or their delegates) continue to address the recommendations of these summits and meetings we continue to focus on the following:
- Continue to refine conference organisation strategies to include different kinds of presentations.
- Continue to send out calls for expressions of interest for hosting future world summits and encourage related events.
- Continue to lobby governments on behalf of arts education.
- Encourage further arts education alliance building around the world.
- Consider creating special interest groups or strategic action groups working across the arts especially for International Arts Education Week.
- Lastly, the WAAE Forum cannot do everything. We need volunteers to help us become a sustainable organisation. Please let us know if you want to become involved.
Reference Documents
Reflection about WAAE by Robin Pascoe, May 2019
Memorandum of the WAAE , 2012
Document about the history of WAAE (2007)
Presented by Dan Baron at WAAE 2007 Creativity Summit
A narrative of the prior years by Diederik Shönau
The Joint Declaration ( created in Viseu, Portugal, March 2006 , for the foundation of WAAE)
