As a result of our extensive consultation over the summer we are now able to share with you the Guiding Principles and Definitions for Cultural Learning that you helped us to hone and shape.
These will form the back-bone of the CLA strategy and arguments going forward and should give us all some shared touchstones and language to use as we lobby for Cultural Learning in our own practice.
The Principles of Cultural Learning
- Every child and young person should have equality of access to a baseline
of quality cultural learning opportunities.
- Cultural learning happens inside and outside of schools and colleges, and
in a wide range of settings.
- Families, parents and carers are important providers of cultural learning.
- Young people shape the cultural landscape and are the arts
professionals of the future. They should be empowered and supported to
engage with, lead and drive the cultural learning agenda.
- Cultural learning involves diverse practice and encompasses the arts,
heritage and knowledge valued by all individuals, cultures and communities.
- Arts subjects taught in schools and other settings as part of the curriculum
have depth, rigour and an established canon of knowledge. They are of
equal weight, status, value and importance within the curriculum as other
subjects, and require equal resource and provision.
- Partnership, collaboration, a shared commitment and a collegiate approach
from those who use cultural learning in their work with young people are key
to its successful delivery.
- Cultural learning enriches our national life and intrinsically makes
a contribution to our society. It is critical to the development of our
economy. Through cultural learning young people gain the skills to
become creative and cultural professionals and to contribute effectively
to the wider workforce.
- It inspires civic engagement and helps neighbourhoods to make positive
changes through collective ownership of culture. This leads to personal,
social and community benefit and a shared sense of place.
- Cultural learning has clearly evidenced educational and social
outcomes. Young people who have the opportunity to learn through and
about culture are better equipped to achieve across the curriculum, and to
take responsibility for their own learning. Attendance, attitude and wellbeing
are all improved by engagement with culture. Cultural learning practice
should be informed by rigorous research and evaluation into impact
DefinitionsCultural learning is an active engagement with the creation of our artsand heritage.
- ‘The arts’ is a broad term that includes a wide range of disciplines from theatre, dance, literature, storytelling, music, craft and visual arts to film, spoken word, digital media, photography and beyond.
- The term ‘heritage’ encompasses an individual’s understanding of themselves, their material culture and the world around them. Cultural organisations and specialists such as museums, libraries, archives, archaeological sites, historic houses and other built environment institutions safeguard and contribute towards this knowledge and understanding.