Towards the implementation of the UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education

Download the new global framework for Culture and Arts Education adopted after the Conference 

 World Conference on Culture and Arts Education 2024 ,  Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). 
​14 February 2024, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm.

Organizers of the WAAE side event:  the  World Alliance for Arts Education (WAAE),  the World Dance Alliance (WDA), daCi (dance and the Child international), and the International Society for Education through Art (InSEA). With the participation of  Vice President for Asia and Pacific Region of the World Federation of Clubs and Associations for UNESCO and the Deputy Commissioner for the National Plan for the Arts of the Government of Portugal.

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Prior to the conference:  documents  to inform discussion

• ​Frankfurt Declaration
• Seoul Agenda;
• UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals.
• Porto Santo Charter

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AGENDA 

 Opening remarks to the session by  Stefania Giannini, (UNESCO ADG/ED)
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introduction of the Side Event Groups
 Sanja K.Tasic; IDEA President);  ISME ( Bo Wah Leung, ISME President;  Mira Kallio Tavin, InSEA Vice-President;  Sarah Knox, WDA); Jeff Meiners  ( daCI) ; Ms. Young Shik Kim,  Vice President for Asia and Pacific Region of the World Federation of Clubs and Associations for UNESCO; Sara Brighenti; Deputy Commissioner for the National Plan for the Arts of the Government of Portugal)

Role of WAAE in global and regional consultations + UNESCO Multistakeholder event in developing the Framework for Culture and Arts Education ( Rita Irwin) 
 The Frankfurt Declaration 2019, a seminal WAAE Declaration informing strategic planning.(Joachim Reiss, IDEA) 


Breakout groups for discussion 
Regional perspectives on culture and the arts for global implementation with discussion of ‘Thematic Areas’ (see Framework) in relation to arts education:

1. Access and inclusion
2. Contextual education and cultural institutions
3. Creativity and creative economy
4. Resilience and well-being
5. Lifelong and life wide learning
6. Teachers and educators
7. Digital technologies
8. Culture and education policies

Breakout groups for discussion (15 mins)
Priorities for strategic action for arts education in relation to ‘Implementation modalities’ (see pages 5-6 of Framework for details):

1. Governance, legislation and policies
2. Learning environments
3. Learning experiences
4. Teachers and educators
5. Digital technologies and AI
6. Partnerships and interinstitutional coordination
7. Financing
8. Research and assessment     

 
Bringing it all together - summary and closing: (15 mins)
Recommendations for forward planning and plan for report to UNESCO

The World Alliance for Arts Education (WAAE)  is a multi-stakeholder alliance including the: International Drama/Theatre and Education Association (IDEA), International Society for Education through Art (InSEA), International Society for Music Education (ISME), World Dance Alliance (WDA – in partnership for this side event with daCi (dance and the Child international). WAAE aims to support the implementation of the UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education (the Framework).  The rationale for the collaborative WAAE side event is to provide a dialogic focal point for arts educators and teachers to begin to build a strategic action plan that may support the implementation of the Framework. WAAE will utilise its global, regional and local networks of arts educators to:

• advocate for greater inclusion in, increased access to and quality of arts education;
• foster research in, about and through arts education, promoting equity, inclusion, quality and relevance within diverse education contexts;
• support community and professional arts education networks that meet needs of learners and teachers across a diversity of formal and informal education contexts.

Through advocacy, research, and networking action, WAAE has a track record of commitment to working with UNESCO. WAAE strongly advocated for the inclusion of arts educator voices during the first UNESCO arts education world conference in Lisbon, 2006 and was integral to research and monitoring of arts educators needs that shaped the structure and focus of the 2010 Seoul Agenda. In 2023, WAAE utilised its regional and global networks to provide UNESCO with a snapshot report of arts educators’ and teachers’ current needs and aspirations. Further to the above WAAE successfully initiated, designed and carried out a suite of international world arts education summits across the world including, Athens (2024), Funchal (2023), Frankfurt (2019), Luxor (2019), Auckland 2017),Hangzhou (2016), Brisbane (2014), Rovaniemi (2012), Newcastle (2009), Taipei (2008), Hong Kong (2007). WAAE will continue to partner with UNESCO as a critical stakeholder. The February 2024 Abu Dhabi Side Event provides a focal point for arts educators, teachers and teacher educators across arts disciplines with the aim to initiate:

• global partnerships and events to foster knowledge sharing;
• the leveraging of UNESCO policy and WAAE digital media networks to grow awareness of the power of arts education and culture in fostering peaceful, just, and sustainable societies; 
• strategic planning and future-focused agendas for examining the interplay between the arts, the environment, technology, wellbeing and education. 

The aspirational report from the WAAE side event, titled: ‘Implementing the UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education: the WAAE’s role and action planning’ will include commitments to:

• provide guidance to UNESCO in the development of culture and arts education expertise;
• develop a strategic plan for collecting and disseminating arts education research and good practices;
• support UNESCO’s implementation of the Abu Dhabi Framework for Culture and Arts Education via the Athens WAAE global summit ,  , daCi Slovenia 2024 conference and other conferences.

The WAAE has a strong history of partnering with UNESCO to achieve tangible outcomes supporting the development of culture, arts education and teachers, and looks forward to furthering this ongoing partnership.

World Alliance for Arts Education (WAAE) / dance and the Child international (daCi) 
UNESCO Side event 
 
A brief summary of the main issues that emerged from the discussion, as well as the key outcomes and follow-up actions to your side event. (250 words maximum)  
This Side Event explored Framework Implementation Modalities in discursive workshop format for cultural/arts education leaders with key prompts: Implementation Recommendations and Implementation Challenges. Discussion acknowledged Framework complexities. Countries require autonomy for implementation with arts education organisations encouraging action strategies within countries/regions.
  
Recommendations:
Audit current partnerships, identifying gaps, and market to/communicate with stakeholders/diverse communities the benefits of innovative and successful arts practices/programmes.
Create global database for arts education partnerships to assess and disseminate strategies and opportunities, identifying potential partners.
Develop collaborative relationships with similar organisations facilitating approaches to funding, working with relevant policies, arts-based pedagogies, practices pertaining to learning contexts, teacher education, AI/digital technologies.
Focus on arts specialisation, interdisciplinary collaboration, indigenous knowledges and sharing of diverse arts practices and pedagogies.  
 
Challenges, questions, concerns regarding arts education organisations’ implementation:
UNESCO to support creation of global database and provide guidance regarding Framework potential for diverse socioeconomic circumstances of countries.
How are partnerships ascertained as innovative and fit for purpose?
How to address gaps in arts education regarding new Framework?
How might successful small projects be scaled up to improve communities’ access and inclusion impact?
How can arts education organisations develop resilient synergies between formal, informal, and non-formal contexts for sustainable life-long and life-wide learning?
Funding and resourcing remain challenging.
Advocacy/strategic action required to funders and all government levels to develop policies and research ensuring access and inclusion.
 
Follow-up actions:
Further support for the implementation of the UNESCO Abu Dhabi Framework for Culture and Arts Education via:
daCi 2024 conference: https://daci2024.org/
IDEA 2024 conference: https://ideadrama.org/page-18262/13225281  
WAAE 2024 global summit: https://www.waaeathenssummit2024.com

World Conference on Culture and Arts Education

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