As the world begins to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, UNESCO is spotlighting the incredible power and resilience of human creativity during the 2020 International Arts Education Week.
The annual event, which falls every fourth week of May, takes on new meaning this year, as 90 percent of the world’s student population, or 1.6 billion learners, are affected by school closures; heritage sites and cultural institutions such as museums, theatres and cinemas are also closed.
More than ever, arts education is being recognized as a key part of a comprehensive education. Arts education advances learning outcomes and helps learners build new skills. In times of crisis, arts education is particularly valuable, inspiring creativity, even in confinement, providing psychological support, and building connections between people and communities.
UNESCO will capture, through its dedicated webpage, a wide range of good practices, methodologies and pedagogical tools and activities taking place across the globe on arts education, to assist all the stakeholders in their reflection and action on this important topic.
Arts education also enhances, in a cross-cutting manner, the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG4 on quality education, SDG5 on gender equality, and others.
More detailed information about the event is available on the UNESCO website.