What is cultural education?
Cultural education consists of the capacity for reflection. Children and also youngsters in cultural education learn to reflect upon their own culture, the culture of others, and culture in general.
This capacity for reflection is in principle trained in many different forms: it can be through journalism for instance or through history but also through the arts. Arts are one of the main forms of self-consciousness, cultural self-consciousness but also philosophy, science and also lessons for example in citizenship.
Culture and education are closely intertwined all along with citizens’ life. The cultural sector represents a world of thousands of opportunities to learn, be they formal, non-formal, or informal. The outcomes of these practices are more and more acknowledged in the educational systems.
Initiation to culture and the arts start from early childhood education and care is acknowledged across the country as an essential part of the curricula. Arts can also be used to improve the acquisition of transversal competences, crucial to foster one’s creativity and sense of appreciation of cultural diversity.
Reasons why Arts and Cultural Education is important
When students are encouraged to express themselves and take risks in creating art, they develop a sense of innovation that will be important in their adult lives.
Arts and Culture improve educational attainment across the curriculum
-
Schools integrating the arts show above-average reading and mathematics scores
-
Drama improves confidence, attendance, and literacy, particularly for students
-
Music improves attainment in maths, literacy and early language acquisition
Students who engage in quality arts experiences
- Have a more positive view about themselves
- Develop their personality, expression, critical thinking, creativity and imagination
- Demonstrate improved achievement, engagement, collaboration, and motivation
Arts and culture improve mental health and wellbeing
Mental health teams using arts and culture in schools have seen benefits including:
- Opportunities to develop supportive friends
- Better school attendance and participation in extra-curricular activities
- Improved self-esteem, social skills, and social inclusion
