Arts education faces many opportunities and challenges at all levels and contexts: in communities, governments, institutions, arts organizations, schools and school boards. The following comments were made in a recent survey conducted by the Magna Kultura Foundation, as follows:
1. Research to date is still not sufficient and focused enough to establish the full benefits of arts education in the school curriculum.
2. There is an erosion taking place in arts education, especially in arts programs from Grades 1 to Grade 6 --- and even worse in high school departments.
3. There is a problem in the way we organize arts education. We must change the way we manage arts education and the way we hire teachers. The arts should not be an add-on in the schools.
4. We need more time and money for the arts (Art materials and activities may be expensive but it's worth it. It builds the soul of people!)
5. Cultural and artistic expression is not sufficiently valued. The arts agenda is minute in the public’s eye and student-teacher ratios are considered more important than the arts.
6. Arts education is a bit subversive and this makes policy makers uneasy. (We cannot be 'leftists' or 'rightists'! ---- we are artists! If possible stay in the middle and artfully show all sides, and still, make people think!)
7. In many school boards there is a lack of qualified art teachers. (For some teachers --- it's just another job, right. That's not the way it should be)
8. Filipinos live in a bubble. They are not connected to what is going on in other communities and countries in the world and this has implications on the arts and arts education in our country.
9. Young activists are using art to change things and help communities in need. (This is all right, just don't turn them into rebels that would turn their children into orphans)
10. There is much talk about cultural exchanges but not enough support for it yet. Support for cultural exchange would help the arts. (if people can do it for basketball, why can't we dribble the same for for arts?)
11. It is important to maintain a very broad view of our concepts of art and the role of arts education. Some have a more romantic or western view of the arts. We can learn from cultures in which the arts are more about tradition, preservation and participation.
12. Assessment in the arts can be viewed as a problem. Children and adults like competitions but it depends on how it is done. There are many art practices in society that need assessment.
13. There is a question of ethics when it comes to corporate sponsorship. One must ask from where and from whom support is obtained. (arts should not be bastardized by people who don't really have a heart for art)
14. The Government never match corporate sponsorships and hardly contribute funding in the regions.
15. Some Arts organizations are often in the position of applying every year for funds in order to survive. Others don't even know where to get funds to make their organization live, to make their artwork reach the public.
16. Arts organizations are also in need of financial advisers when dealing with sponsors. It is important not to sell themselves too cheaply.
17. Traditional arts are evolving and transformations in materials and styles are taking place. It is important to evolve but traditional arts are based in oral history and this history must be preserved.
18. Another important challenge is equal access for all students in all areas. Regional and financial disparities still need to be addressed. These include Visayas and Mindanao, north and south Luzon, rural and urban, and differences even within urban areas. (Must it always be imperial Manila?)
19. Art programs and projects very often have limited spaces available to them. The message often received is that there is a scheduling problem but it is much greater than that.
20. Many school boards are now using space as a cost-recovery mechanism. Even buildings that are empty are not free. This can be a deterrent for arts groups with limited income.
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