The Australia Council has welcomed today’s announcement by Arts Minister Peter Garrett and the nation’s education ministers to include arts in Australia’s national curriculum review.

Australia Council Chief Executive Officer Kathy Keele said she was delighted that arts subjects will be part of the curriculum review later this year.

‘I thank Arts Minister Peter Garrett for his continuing support and advocacy on this issue,’ Ms Keele said.

The Australia Council, as well as many arts organisations and artists, have long championed the significant role of the arts in providing our children with a rich and creative education.

‘The announcement today by Minister Garrett places the arts on an equal footing with other key curriculum areas and is an integral part of making the Australian education system relevant to children in the 21st century,’ Ms Keele said.

‘There is a strong body of international and Australian research which demonstrates a direct link between an arts-rich education from an early age and an increase in students’ confidence, problem solving and general life skills.

‘By making the creative arts a core component of the education curriculum, students will become more resourceful and better equipped to successfully manage change. In addition, a stronger presence of arts in education will help produce Australia’s creative artists of tomorrow,’ Ms Keele said.

The Australia Council has been actively pursuing a national approach for arts in education for a number of years, and it was instrumental in developing the “national education and the arts statement” by the Cultural Ministers Council and the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs in 2007.

The Australia Council is also managing the Australian Government’s $5.2m “artists-in-residence” program which sets up collaborative partnerships between schools and local arts communities.

“As part of the Australia Council’s cultural engagement framework, we are committed to unlocking the creative potential of our children and young people, and making creative arts an integral part of Australia’s life long learning strategy,” Ms Keele said.