In the beginning: Young children and arts education

Abstract

This paper reports on the work in progress undertaken with young children, artists and early childhood education students in an innovative arts education partnership between Windmill Performing Arts, the national performing arts company for children and families, and the University of South Australia. The paper explains how the project was established with briefs provided to artists and tertiary students working in three early childhood sites. It outlines how artists created work in their respective artforms, music, dance and visual arts, with tertiary students observing children’s spontaneous responses. The paper concludes by identifying implications for teaching and learning in the arts in early childhood.