Netherlands/ 8.3 Arts and cultural education  

8.3.1 Institutional overview

Characterisation of the arts and culture education sector

There are c.220 organisations working in the field of arts education in the Netherlands, over 200 of which are local or regional centres for the arts (creativity centres, music schools, or combined organisations); 16 are provincial organisations for the support of in school-arts education or amateur arts. Together, these c.220 organisations reach c. 450 000 children, students and adults via out-of-school workshops, courses and master classes, and more than 1.2 million children and students via in-school lessons and projects. About 50% of all the schools in the Netherlands participate in these activities.

In the sector, more than 11 000 people are working, mostly in part time functions; many of whom are artists who run their own practice next to teaching. Ca. 226 millions euros is available each year in this sector; over 60% coming from municipalities, 40% from provincial support, participation fees, earnings out of service fees and from educational and societal organisations.

Teaching the teacher

In order to raise the quality of the teaching in arts and culture education, for some years now, emphasis is put on arts and cultural education in teacher training programmes for primary and secondary level and post-graduate teacher training. Stressing the importance of these programmes, and offering more possibilities to such programmes, is part of the 10 point cultural participation plan Minister of Culture Ronald Plasterk introduced in his policy memorandum Art for Life's Sake [Kunst van leven, 2007] (for other points in the 10 point cultural participation plan, see chapter 4.2.4, chapter 4.2.7, and chapter 8.4.1).

Creative professionalism

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of Economic Affairs Artists&Cultural Entrepreneurship [Kunstenaars&CO], in cooperation with Art & Business [Kunst & Zaken], is implementing a programme to help professional arts education institutes to close the gap between their work and professional practice by coaching project education and involving the business world in this educative process (for other projects of Artists&Cultural Entrepreneurship, see chapter 4.2.8, chapter 4.2.9, chapter 7.3 and chapter 8.1).

ICT

Schools are increasingly deploying Internet as a tool in the learning process and as a means of facilitating renewal in educational practice. Until 2003, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences, Linking Knowledge Foundation [Stichting Kennisnet] was responsible for the implementation of the central Internet infrastructure for education. The Linking Knowledge Foundation collaborates closely with a number of organisations including Waag Society, a Centre of Expertise for Cultural Subjects and ICT, the Digital School and the Association of Public Libraries. As of 1 January 2004, based on recommendations from the Linking Knowledge Foundation, the government opted for market freedom and freedom of choice for schools. Availability of educational content and services remains guaranteed via a central platform for content and services.

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