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To support artists, build arts audiences, and harness the cultural economy, we need learning outcomes for the next generation of Australian students.
It’s time for a Cultural Engagement Program that expands the opportunity in our schools. For ten years now, the Australian federal government has been funding chaplains in Australian primary and secondary schools to provide ‘support and guidance about ethics, values, relationships and spirituality’.
Between 2011-2014, the previous Labor government expanded the programme, allowing schools to choose instead a ‘secular student well-being officer’, following concerns over the appropriateness of only placing religious workers in public schools.
In May 2014 however, Tony Abbott’s government removed this provision returning to the original plan of funding chaplains, as well as increasing funding to $244m over four years. It is currently administered by state and territory governments across Australia.
But if our future relies on innovative ideas, we need to see innovative thinkers to shape today’s students. The Arts Party proposes that schools are given an option to choose to engage artists-in-residence, psychologists, secular or religious officers across the country.
Our idea is to keep the structure and funding model of the current government programme, increasing the available grants by around $20,000 a year for each Australian school, to allow up to two placements for artists.
A school might choose to engage someone from a national register of qualified artists – including painters, sculptors, musicians, actors or theatre directors – to work in their school for a semester or a year, or cooperate with other schools in their area to share the services of such artists.
These artists would both use the schools as inspiration, the teachers and students as collaborators in works created through the year. Those resulting works would be specially exhibited or performed for the wider school community at year end.
The presence of creative arts practitioners in schools across the country would be a win on so many levels. For students. For the practitioners with new sources of inspiration and interaction. For the parents and school workers who would see art practiced as a daily part of their lives. Finally, it would be a catalyst for expanding the limits of what’s possible in the minds of the next generation of Australians.
For those educationalists and families who value the existing program, this change proposes no threat. By expanding the programme we can offer exciting alternatives, within an existing programmatic structure, and within an existing funding protocol.
The Arts Party formed two years ago and is Australia’s only party dedicated to arts, culture and creativity. We are currently crowdfunding our federal election campaign. If you would like to help us give The Arts a voice at the Federal election then please contribute to the campaign: http://www.pozible.com/project/204920
