The Second UNESCO World Conference on Arts Education

Overview & Synopsis

This article reports on the second UNESCO World Conference on Arts and Education held on May 25-28, 2010 in Seoul, Korea, which brought together approximately 650 arts educators from 95 UNESCO member states (countries) for a four-day summit of international diplomacy, cross-arts networking, global and regional strategic planning and professional development. The conference was hosted by the Korean Arts, Culture and Education Service (KACES) on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korean Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO). The programme of the second UNESCO Arts Education Conference (Seoul Conference) encompassed high-level ministerial roundtables, UNESCO Arts Education Advisory Committee roundtables, international NGOs (Arts Education) forums, teacher and artists' panel presentations, regional research case studies, keynote addresses, arts education site visits, performances and displays. As a member of the World Dance Alliance and the elected dance representative on the Presidential Council of the World Alliance for Arts Education, the author currently represents dance education on the UNESCO International Advisory Committee for Arts Education. With the inclusion of an NGO dance representative on the UNESCO Advisory Committee for Arts Education, dance educators had a voice in planning for the Seoul Conference and developing policy that flowed from this event.