UNESCO International Arts Education Week

On the 23 May 2012 the United Nations Education Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO) will launch the inaugural International Arts Education Week (21-27 May, 2012) at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris. This high profile event includes a symposium and official ceremony officiated by Francesco Bandarin, Assistant Director General  for Culture, UNESCO and Mrs Park Jae–Eun, President, Korea Arts Culture Education Service (KACES). The World Alliance for Arts Education (WAAE) will be represented by Assoc. Professor Ralph Buck, Chair, Executive Council, WAAE, who will moderate one of the symposium panels. The symposia will focus on the implementation of the Seoul Agenda: Goals for the Development of Arts Education, and profiling cultural diversity in and through arts education.

International Arts Education Week was proposed to UNESCO in 2009 by the Executive Council of the World Alliance for Arts Education (WAAE). The WAAE is an alliance between the International Drama/Theatre Education Association (IDEA), International Society for Education through Art (InSEA), International Society for Music Education (ISME) and World Dance Alliance (WDA). Advocacy by the WAAE and the Korean Arts and Culture Education Service (KACES) was rewarded when the 36 Session of the General Conference of UNESCO agreed to three resolutions that recognise the importance of arts education in fostering cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and social cohesion. The three resolutions were:

1. Adopt and support the Seoul Agenda: Goals for the Development of Arts Education
2. Designate the fourth week of May as International Arts Education Week
3. Support a third world conference on arts education

Please go to the following website for further information regarding UNESCO arts education policies

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/themes/creativity/arts-education/.

International Arts Education Week aims to raise international community’s awareness of the importance of arts education. To be celebrated in the 4^th week of May every year, International Arts Education Week will honour and celebrate arts education in diverse societies and cultures. Key stakeholders in arts education such as teachers, parents, children, arts education associations, artists, civil servants, researchers and government authorities may value this week for showcasing practices, traditions, innovations, projects and research highlighting the integral role the arts and arts education play in diverse communities.

The WAAE will value its vast international networks and annually advocate for International Arts Education Week. The WAAE calls upon all arts education stakeholders to celebrate the inaugural launch of International Arts Education Week, 23 May 2012, and to see the fourth week of May as a time for annual celebrations of arts education.

For further information contact WAAE Executive Council members:

International Drama/Theatre and Education Association (IDEA)

(Patrice Baldwin) patrice.baldwin1@gmail.com

International Society for Education through Art (InSEA)

(Rita Irwin) rita.irwin@ubc.ca

International Society for Music Education (ISME)

(Margaret Barrett) m.barrett@uq.edu.au

World Dance Alliance (WDA)

(Ralph Buck) r.buck@auckland.ac.nz

http://www.funmusicco.com/index.shtml?gclid=CM6c96fD-a8CFcNMpgod1w4hEw

Music: Count Us In has full details – due 25 May, 2012. $1000 up for grabs!

·         Closing Date for Application is Wednesday, 30 May 2012

·         The Final will be held in the Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre at 3pm on Sunday, 17 June 2012

The competition guidelines and Application form can be found here – http://www.melbournerecital.com.au/bachcompetition

If you have any competition enquiries, please feel free to email us on – bachcompetition@melbournerecital.com.au

There is still time to be part of Making Music Being Well 2012, by committing to run some sort of music making event during the week of 21-27 May. It can be a concert, a jam, an open mic session, a drum circle, a uke class – anything that gives you an opportunity to promote the link between music and wellbeing.  Better still, it’s something you’re already doing that week, which you can hitch to the MMBW wagon. We’ll send you free resources and help promote your events. The initiative has gone global this year, with events planned in Hong Kong, PNG and the US! Check it out here.

Australian National Band & Orchestra Conference 2012 (run by ABODA Queensland)

5-8 July, 2012 @ South Brisbane

Join 500 000 Australian students in a massive music-making opportunity. Watch this space for FREE music, resources and lesson plans.

Read more: www.musiccountusin.org.au

This year’s culminating day is Thursday, 1st November.

Want to have more than half a million Australians sing YOUR song?  Write a song that’s catchy, optimistic and upbeat and yours could be the Song That Stops Australia for Music: Count Us In 2012.

You will receive a $1000 fee for use of your song in the program and a high-profile Australian performer will record it and visit your school. As the Program Songwriter you will also attend one of the culminating media events, all expenses paid.

You may work on your own, with co-writer/s or even write a song as a whole class exercise.

But you must work quickly, because we need your submission by 5.00 pm Friday, 25th May.

Download the brief here.