Evaluating Education Programmes in Arts Organisations

Abstract

This paper reports a study funded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and conducted at the University of Exeter into the assessment procedures adopted by arts organisations in respect of their educational programmes. Arts organisations are being woven by government ever more closely into the politics of culture and one aspect of this development has been the encouragement they have received to participate in and supplement provision for the arts in schools—generally seen as experiencing cut-backs and slim-down. The study finds arts organisations unclear about their educational role and hence uneasy as to how their educational work might be evaluated. So far the funding agencies have given little support or guidance. The paper argues that, for teachers and artists to work effectively together, and for that work to be systematically evaluated, an agreed theoretical framework has to underpin the partnership.