Arts and Education

  West Australian Ballet: Pinocchio Photo: Jon Green
A national arts curriculum is currently being developed for kindergarten to Year 12 by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) which is responsible for the management of curriculum, assessment and reporting at the national level.  The arts curriculum is part of phase two of curriculum development.

Intensive lobbying by the arts sector in 2008–09 highlighted international research proving the value to children’s cognitive development of a curriculum rich in arts. This prompted the Federal Government to rethink its earlier view that subjects such as Music, Dance, Drama and Visual Arts would not be considered in the first two phases of the new curriculum.

AMPAG education managers have made two submissions to ACARA about ways their work can better influence and support the new curriculum. The first submission expressed their united support for sequential and developmental learning pathways for all Australian students. They believe this curriculum should improve the existing practices in school arts education. The companies stress that experiencing live arts performance is an essential component in arts learning and has a vital role in the education and life experience of all young people.  Live performance is the core business of MPA companies, and they are therefore in a unique position to partner with education providers.  

At the end of 2010 the education managers’ network provided a further submission in response to ACARA's Draft Shape Paper on the national arts curriculum. The final Shape of the Australian Curriculum: The Arts was published in August 2011 and national consultations will occur during 2012. AMPAG will work with the education managers to ensure that the new arts curriculum and the work of the AMPAG education network are complementary.

For more details on the education work of AMPAG companies click here.  

Major Performing Arts in Education Forum 2012

AMPAG education managers have been holding yearly forums to share information and resources across the sector. The next forum will be held 9-10 July, 2012 in Brisbane. For more information please visit the forum page, hosted by AMPAG, here.

Major Performing Arts in Education Forum 2011

Last year's forum was held in June 2011 in Melbourne.

Keynote Address - David Foley (41920 KB)

Panel Session - disadvantaged youth (36316 KB)

Panel Session - National Curriculum (39628 KB)

No literature found.

Guest Speakers' Information (584 KB)