Arts education and training in Australia are facing a silent but urgent crisis. Despite overwhelming evidence of its positive impact on students’ academic achievement, well-being and engagement, the Arts remain undervalued and underfunded within our national education systems. This is not merely an oversight—it reflects long-standing policy neglect and misplaced priorities.
Read MoreThe NAAE has compiled a list of Creative Arts and Arts Education courses, majors and units that have been discontinued or significantly reduced across Australian tertiary institutions between 2018 and 2025.
Read MoreNAAE continues to advocate for the alarming decline in tertiary creative arts courses, and for arts curriculum revision in some State education departments.
Read MoreNAAE held a cross-sector roundtable to discuss the common concerns and possible solutions to the arts education and training crisis in Queensland.
Read MoreNAAE President, Dr John Nicholas Saunders, recently participated in a forum on PISA creative thinking assessment. Here’s a summary of the response.
Read MoreOrganisations and individuals have been invited to comment on these five pillars of a new National Cultural Policy: First Nations, A Place for Every Story, the Centrality of the Artist, Strong Institutions and Reaching the Audience.
Read MoreMeaningful investment, proper resourcing, and support in the form of sustained professional learning and adequate initial teacher education for Arts teachers are essential for how we leverage the unique skills and understandings obtained by the field in recent years.
Read More‘It is crucial that quality research across disciplinary realms is supported to help create visions and possibilities, to help promote social inclusion and cohesion, foster critical thinking, imagination and innovation – all aspects that are essential to Australia’s future.’
Read MoreNAAE’s submission to the Quality Initial Teacher Education Review is informed by our members’ experiences and research as teachers, pre-service teacher educators working in universities, and as arts education stakeholders. … NAAE believes a key factor in achieving educational success for all Australian students is the provision of quality learning experiences in The Arts at primary and secondary school.
Read MoreThis submission focuses on The Arts and provides general feedback about the proposed Australian Curriculum: The Arts. We note that most of our member national associations, and many state/territory associations have provided detailed responses.
Read MoreTwo prominent arts education researchers, Dr John Nicholas Saunders and Dr Linda Lorenza, have recently published papers highlighting the power of arts learning and the importance of principals’ own view of the arts.
Read MoreInternational Arts Education week reminds the world that the arts and learning are tightly bound and have been for a very long time. We are reminded that, throughout the twentieth century, arts educators were a dynamic force to challenge and disrupt the Transmission Model of education, rebranded these days as Direct Instruction.
Read MoreSupporting professional creative arts training translates to an investment in a robust creative industry which makes a vital contribution to both Australia’s economy and to community social well-being as evidenced most recently during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read MoreThe National Advocates for Arts Education (NAAE) opposes the Federal Government’s proposed university fees reforms and calls for an equitable tertiary education system that does not target creative arts degrees with increased fees on the basis that this area of study does not lead to employment.
Read MoreThe National Advocates for Arts Education (NAAE) strongly support the call for a national Artist-in-Residence program as advanced by the Australian Greens.
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Hearing about what is possible in the time of COVID-19 highlights issues of access and equity. Digital resources are allowing teachers and students to communicate and learn together. However, experience is also demonstrating that access to the digital world isn’t a reality for every home in Australia.
Read MoreThe National Advocates for Arts Education (NAAE) is calling for a significant increase of the Australia Council’s budget as part of a larger set of stimulus measures proposed by a broad arts industry alliance to save the arts industry from collapse.
Read MoreThe NAAE announced the appointment of John Nicholas Saunders as Chair. John will take over leadership of the NAAE from Julie Dyson AM in February 2020 as the network celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Read MoreThe NAAE submission to the NSW Curriculum Review (December 2019) focuses on the five art forms of dance, drama, media arts, music and visual arts, asserting that ‘the structure of The Australian Curriculum: The Arts provides a clear scope and sequence for teachers to follow, thereby reducing the crowding and potential confusion currently evident in the NSW Creative Arts K–6 and Stages 4 and 5 syllabi for the arts.’
Read MoreFederal Education Minister Dan Tehan has responded to NAAE’s request for a status review of arts education across Australia.
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