At the beginning of the 21st
century, UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization) began to acknowledge the crucial role of arts education as the
very foundation to promote creative educational environments and as an
essential element of education itself. To this end, as the first step to form a
consensus with the international community, UNESCO proclaimed the
“International Appeal for the Promotion of Arts Education and Creativity at
School” at its 30th General Conference session in 1999.
In 2010, a decade following this
appeal for increased awareness on the importance of arts education, the Second
World Conference on Arts Education was held in Seoul, the Republic of Korea.
Following the success of the 2nd World Conference on Arts Education (25-28 May
2010), the 4th week of May of every year has been proclaimed as International
Arts Education Week by UNESCO’s General Conference at its 36th session.
The most notable outcome of this
conference was the “Seoul Agenda: Goals for the Development of Arts Education,”
which was agreed upon through in-depth discussions of international experts,
regarding the significance of arts education in and out of schools. The Seoul
Agenda serves to enlarge the roles and scope of arts education and to encourage
its social contribution efforts, while enhancing the overall quality of arts
education and acting as a guiding direction for the education system.
The International Arts Education
Week aims at increasing the international community’s awareness on the
importance of arts education and at reinforcing its cooperation by promoting
cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and social cohesion.
During this week, art educators
across the globe share the story of the impact of the transformative power of
the arts in education.
Dr. Angela Saldanha was in Nigeria, West Africa on invitatation of the
TEACHING VISUAL ART to celebrate the UNESCO International Arts
Education Week with the Nigerian children. While in Nigeria, she was in company
of Prince Olusegun Michael Adeniyi, an
award winning Artist-cum-Art educator (2019 Inspirational Teacher of the year)
Dr. Angela Saldanha is the vice-president of the Association of Teachers of Expression
and Visual Communication (APECV) and member of the European Council of the
International Society for Education through Art (InSEA). She has undergone
Postdoctoral degrees in Digital Media Art, Open University, Lisbon: PhD in Arts
Education, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Porto, with “On the way home”
thesis, approved unanimously, with Distinction and Honors. Master in Visual Arts with the dissertation “My Mirror, Your
Mirror. And Degree in Design, University of Aveiro. PhD student in Contemporary
Art, at the College of Arts, University of Coimbra.
2019
UNESCO International Arts Education Week at Caleb British International School, Lekki Lagos
In Nigeria, the 2019 UNESCO
International Arts Education Week (20th to 26th of May, 2019) was celebrated at
Caleb International School with two great events: Why Art is important to me
and open Art studio.
At the “Why Art is important to me”
event, the participants were made to write why Art is important to them. This
also spark dialogue between students and there was a lot of conversation around
importance of art among students and teachers. The InSEA Manifesto painted
beautifully on 2.5 by 5 feet canvas was also on display to add to the ambience
and to get the school community acquainted with the InSEA Manifesto. The whole
essence was to create awareness for Art education week. The INSEA Manifesto can
be downloaded at: http://insea.org/InSEA-Manifesto
The Open Art Studio offers the CBIS
community, the students, and teachers and parents the opportunity to explore,
express and create art without inhibition.
"Every child is an artist, the
problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up", Pablo Picasso. Creative
impulses are present in all human beings, but for one to excel in art, this
creative instinct has to be cultivated, nourished and exercised so that it can
be stimulated in others. This debunks the impression that Art is only meant for
the gifted. Some adults were also able to discover their inner creative genius
again at the Open Art Studio.
The platform inspires creativity and
provided Dr. Angela and Prince Olusegun the opportunity to offer mentor-ship to
the participants aimed at discovering their unique voices in visual expression.
The overall goal was to increase students’ motivation, awareness and
understanding of the arts. Our little way of putting the Art in the heart of
every child...
Before a child talks they
sing. Before they write they draw. As soon as they stand they dance. Art is
fundamental to human expression. Art, beyond the ability to draw is indeed a
veritable platform to nurture divine talents, build character and harness
intellectual capacity of people. Art opens a child to self-discovery; therefore
any artistic endeavour engaged with the children should be fully supported and
encouraged.
Collage was created from the artworks made at the Open art Studio.
Art Engagement in commemoration of the International Arts Education Week held at Early Moulders Private School, Ibadan.
Art Engagement in commemoration of the International Arts Education Week held at Early Moulders Private School, Ibadan.
TEACHING
VISUAL ART has always been creating creative platforms to provide enriching and creative
art activities for the kids with aim of promoting art from the grassroots
level. TEACHING VISUAL ART
brings continued resources and support to the advancement of art theory and
practice in Nigeria. It was a rare privilege to have Dr. Angela on the outreach
in Ibadan City to celebrate the UNESCO International Arts Education week with
the concept “Making”, an artistic engagement juxtaposed with cultural
exchanges. Many thanks to Mrs Oluwafunmilayo Adebiyi, the proprietress of the
Early Moulders Private School for hosting us.
UNESCO
International Arts Education Week Celebration at Greensprings School, Anthony
Campus.
Dr. Angela and Prince were presented
"Award of Stewardship" for their contribution to Art Education in
Nigeria during the 2019 UNESCO International Arts Education Week at the
Greensprings School, Anthony Campus, Lagos. Well done to Mr. Tayo Adekugbe and
the Vocational Department led by Mr. Allen Ochieng.
Dr. Angela was also presented a piece of
artwork by the Education Administrator of Caleb British International School,
Mrs Pedro.
We invite the Art
teachers to join InSEA (International Society of Education through Art). InSEA
is a worldwide society of art educators concerned with education through
Art. Members work together to share
experience, improve practice and strengthen the position of art in all areas of
education. To join or learn more about InSEA, log on: www.insea.org
Conclusively, we hope
that this report will further spread the awareness of UNESCO International Arts
Education Week celebration in Nigeria and beyond; contribute to improving
participation of Nigerian Art educators in InSEA; encourage creativity and
inspire new concept in Art Theory and Practice. TEACHING VISUAL ART is
committed to improving the quality of Art education in Nigeria with the aim of
encouraging art participation and enrollment in Nigerian schools.
Get involved in the future celebration of UNESCO International Arts Education Week!
Celebrate: host a celebration in your community, whether big or small, an existing event, or a new one.
Advocate: Share the value of the arts in education.
Participate: Share your story in the social media campaign...
Celebrate: host a celebration in your community, whether big or small, an existing event, or a new one.
Advocate: Share the value of the arts in education.
Participate: Share your story in the social media campaign...
