:::: Canadian Arts and Learning Symposium ::::

The wrap-up Steering Committee meeting for the 2007 National Arts and Learning Symposium was held on June 7th 2007. The main focus of the Symposium was to provide a follow up to the Lisbon conference held in March of 2006 and to develop an action plan of important tasks to accomplish in Canada prior to the next World conference on arts education to be held in Seoul in 2010. The fact that the first international chair for arts and learning is held by Queen’s University in Kingston Ontario will facilitate our work, since the chair, Larry O’Farrell, a member of our Steering Committee, is willing to work with us to accomplish many of the goals of the action plan arising from the Ottawa Symposium. The Steering Committee has also decided that it will organize another symposium at the end of October 2008 to follow up on the action plan and prepare for Seoul.

Over the course of the two day symposium delegates in discussion groups on Day 1 identified important actions that could be taken. On Day two, a synthesis of these actions was presented to them and delegates proceeded to identify steps and processes that could help accomplish the actions that had been identified. Throughout the whole procedure, the Steering Committee respected the themes that had been chosen by the international community to review arts education in the world: advocacy, the impact of arts education, policies and strategies, and teacher training. The Steering Committee has now decided to organize the actions under the following headings: organisational framework, research, arts education standards, and advocacy.

The following is the plan of actions, procedures and outcomes the steering committee feels can be accomplished or started within these categories before the next symposium in Kingston 2008.

Organisational Framework
Action		Description	Current Implementation
Action 1	Description	Re-establish National Coalition for the Arts or Create a National Network for the Arts	A new network is proposed for discussion and ratification at Symposium 2008.
	How we do this	News letter Develop a Web2 technology a Wiki-like website for exchange of ideas and information. Develop art BLOGS in order to promote discussion.	A sub-committee of the Symposium 2008 Steering Committee is planning focused questions for delegate modification and approval
	What do we need to do this	Leadership	Leadership is provided by Sub-committee led by Max Wyman and John Hobday
	Who can do this	The steering committee of the next Symposium 2008 and the UNESCO Chair for Arts and Learning can be part of this	Currently on track.
	When can we do this	Before 2010 symposium	To be decided at Symposium 2008.
Action 2	Description	Worldwide communication (UNESCO and CCU website)	Active and on-going through the UNESCO Chair with 2 successful web-conferences.
	How we do this	Work through the Canadian Commission for UNESCO to assure communication with the World organisation.	On schedule.
	What do we need to do this	Prepare regular communiqués to describe our national events in the area of arts and learning	On schedule through the UNESCO Chair.
	Who can do this	The ongoing steering committee for symposiums on arts and learning. Steering committee members interested in this action are: Michael Wilson,	Mostly taken on by UNESCO Chair Larry O’Farrell.
	When can we do this	On going	On-going.
Action 3	Description	Invitation d’enseignants francophones canadiens à participer au congrès des « 4arts » au Québec en 2008
	How we do this	En informant dès le mois de mars 2008, la tenue du congrès 4 arts et de son emplacement. En établissant une chaîne de courriels. En invitant des enseignants canadiens à venir voir comment organiser un tel congrès dans leur région et en couvant une partie de leurs frais de voyage et de déplacements.
	What do we need to do this	Publicités invitantes du congrès des 4 arts. Liste à jour de courriels de conseillers pédagogiques, d’enseignants en arts qui nous assureront que l’information sera transmise dans les meilleurs délais. Banque monétaire pour assurer la venue d’une délégation francophone hors Québec.
	Who can do this	À la base, le contact avec l’organisation des 4arts peut se faire facilement par n’importe qui. Une personne doit envoyer la liste des courriels et assurer le suivi avec les 4 arts et les enseignants qui manifesteront le désir de venir y participer. Les membres du comité de direction intéressés à participer à ce projet sont : Inouk
	When can we do this	Dès le mois de mars 2008.

Research
Action		Description	Current Implementation
Action 1	Description	Get and post clear data on arts education in Canada ‘Draw a map of Canada’ This action would provide all Canadians with basic information concerning arts education throughout Canada using common specific categories. The data collected would start with what is available in elementary and secondary arts education school programs and would eventually move up to university programs. Eventually arts and learning sponsored by various groups in every province could be part of this website data page which will make use of web2 technologies and become interactive.
	How we do this	1. Invite representative from each province to be part of a advisory committee 2. Put together existing materials and research on arts and learning in Canada. This will include an inventory of both formal and non-formal arts education in Canada. 3. Develop and sustain a non-territorial attitude towards advocacy based on an abundance model. 4. Use existing similar sites to develop the model.
	What do we need to do this	We need: to devise a template of information we need from all providers; a website on which to place the information; someone to coordinate the information; provincial education ministries to make their information available; other organizations to provide the same information; all organizations to provide updates when changes need to be made
	Who can do this	Members of the Symposium 2007 and the chair for Arts and Education of Queen’s University. Madeleine Aubrey has accepted to take the lead on this and work with steering committee members and representatives from other provinces to do this work. Michael Wilson, ……have accepted to work on this. Others are invited to volunteer on this project and can send their comments and e-mail to Madeleine at, madarte@sympatico.ca
	When can we do this	From September 2007 to October 2008
Action 2	Description	Research teacher and artist partnerships where both are mutually reinforced.
	How we do this	Create a rural project where artists work with teachers; work with arts organizations and governments. Models of this kind would be useful to alleviate regional disparities and facilitate rural and urban regions that do not have all the amenities of large urban centers.
	What do we need to do this	Inventory places where this type of programs exist; examine research in this area; initiate or take part in an existing program; collect and disseminate the information to other art groups and other regions of the country
	Who can do this	Academic researchers and art organisational leaders within our group and in our communities. Possible steering committee members to work on this action include : Steven Campbell, Inouk Touzin, Michael Wilson, and Annalee Adair.
	When can we do this	????
Action 3	Description	Exploring and developing approaches and strategies that facilitate E-learning in the Arts has the potential to yield significant benefits. Such exploration and development may provide a positive Canadian contribution to the next World Conference in Arts and Learning, scheduled to take place in Seoul, South Korea, in 2010.	Project implementation in pre-service elementary teacher education in the arts – Madeleine Aubrey. E-Learning for Drama/Theatre Teachers – a project of the UNESCO Chair in Arts and Learning – Larry O’Farrell
	How we do this	Research and surveys into what is presently being done in most Universities across Canada at both Faculties of Education and Arts Faculties	One initial presentation has been made to the Ontario Arts Teachers Educators Association (OATEA) for input. UNESCO Chair Project is underway with participants in several countries. Workshops were held on e-learning for some participants at the Faculty of Education, Queen’s University in May 2008.
	What do we need to do this	We need to identify major players in this area and ask them to contribute their experiences to the project.
	Who can do this	Larry O’Farrell and Madeleine have expressed a wish to work on this action.	UNESCO Chair project leader is Larry O’Farrell.
	When can we do this	Survey questionnaire can be developed and sent out in 2008-2009	UNESCO Chair project is underway.

Arts Educational Standards
Action		Description	Current Implementation
Action 1	Description	Create exemplary policies of arts education for boards of education, ministries of ed. and governments.
	How we do this	Write a series of models of exemplary policies of arts education for all levels of government
	What do we need to do this	Inventory what has been done in all provinces and other jurisdiction (or by other groups)
	Who can do this	A committee of interested arts and learning advocates and arts organizations can do this and use it as an advocacy tool.
	When can we do this	Between the fall of 2007 and 2008
Action 2	Description	Create a national snapshot of arts policies and practices in pre-service teacher education. This will lead to the eventual formulation of national principles of the arts in teacher education.	The National Arts in Teacher Education Project – launched in Jan. 2008.
	How we do this	Examination of university web-site data and selected case studies.	On going.
	What do we need to do this	Travel money, sponsoring university, appropriate ethical safeguards.	No travel, sponsoring university or ethical review.
	Who can do this	University-based researchers – profs or grad students. Larry O’Farrell, Theodora Stathopoulos and Michael Wilson have expressed an interest in this action.	Undertaken voluntarily by Michael Wilson, Theodora Strathopoulos, Mariette Theberge and Madeleine Aubrey.
	When can we do this	Web-site reporting at Symposium 2008. A national report ready for Korea 2010.	In preparation. Report to be available at Symposium 2008. Thereafter, ongoing research and additions to narrative descriptions of inspired practice.

Action 3	Description	Reconnaissance des acquis des artistes (en enseignement).
	How we do this	Élaborer une liste d’acquis nécessaires pour l’enseignement des arts qui appuient la formation générale d’artistes. Collaborer avec des représentants des associations d’enseignants
	What do we need to do this	Consulter des artistes dans tous les domaines artistiques afin d’avoir une liste d’acquis propre pour chaque forme d’art
	Who can do this	Un comité formé d’artistes, de participants du symposium, d’organisations culturelles et de représentants des ministères d’éducation et d’associations professionnelles d’enseignants INOUK and perhaps representatives of Arts Funders??
	When can we do this	De septembre 2007 à l’automne 2008
Action 4	Description	Promote continuing education training and additional qualifications
	How we do this	Set up a pilot
	What do we need to do this	Willing partners, some money
	Who can do this	An Arts Council could initiate this. Michael Wilson and Ann Patteson have expressed a wish to work on this action.
	When can we do this	Now Note: The field of professional development is vast, we thought to begin with the idea of fostering professional learning communities among artists and educators

Advocacy/Communication
Action		Description	Current Implementation
Action 1	Description	Promote the value of arts education. (Create an awareness campaign and a document that would list what, where and who has done advocacy to date.) Create a Declaration or chart stating that all Canadians have a right to arts education	A microcosm of possible national goals exists with the Arts Advisory Committee of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board – a standing committee chaired and controlled by the community.
	How we do this	Collect declarations, select best models and present a draft of this at the next Arts and learning Symposium in 2008
	What do we need to do this	Many arts associations have done work in this area and can provide documentation and human resources to do this work
	Who can do this	A committee of interested advocates. Possible steering committee members to work on this action include : Inouk
	When can we do this	Between the fall of 2007 and 2008
Action 2	Description	Get all the kids involved /involving youth as well as parents and community groups	AAC of OCSDB model
	How we do this	Encourage student involvement in the symposium and events being planned in the area of arts and learning. Have them present to their own boards of Education.
	What do we need to do this	Send invitations and documentation to all ministries of education when organizing events
	Who can do this	Event organizers. Possible steering committee members to work on this action include: Max Wyman and John Hobday.
	When can we do this	On going
Action 3	Description	Create a concrete, national advocacy program that makes use of existing research analysis and aimed at the general public. The participation fitness program could serve as a model to follow. The key message might focus on expression for personal well-being.
	How we do this	Broaden steering committee to add media stakeholders
	What do we need to do this	See column on Who can do this
	Who can do this	Public Relations firm would do the work through a pro-bono organization like the Council for Advertising, Working for a media sponsor such as the CBC or CanWest, Rogers, with decisions being made by our national network steering committee. Possible steering committee members to work on this action include :
	When can we do this	A major project for the near future