Art education in Australia

The article introduces the characteristics of art education in Australia and points out the impact of the main art theories of art on school curricula in this country. Although the function of art education and the part it plays are indeed acknowledged, problems still remain, notably in the training of teachers, which too often lacks quality requirements. By acknowledging that art is a factor of change, adaptation and opening, Australia faces a challenge in a globalized context: redefining art education in keeping with evolutions and expectations

The article was commissioned by the Revue Internationale d’Education Sèvres (RIES) for an issue focusing on world-wide art education.

The article was developed from the basis of research that investigated how contemporary arts from diverse backgrounds can become core within quality arts education provisions in Australia. With reference to the impact of arts and cultural education on diverse communities (including those communities often denied access to the arts through less inclusive practices) this research questioned what makes quality policy and practices widely accessible to various audiences.