The Influence of Anti-Politics on Arts Education Policy

Overview & Synopsis

This paper presents a critical policy analysis of how anti-political education reforms impact arts education. I consider examples of educational policies--both within arts education and outside the arts--to analyze how arts education may be impacted by anti-politics. I argue that many arts education policy outcomes can be understood as indirectly resulting from neoliberal and increasingly anti-political education policy moves. I offer both specific examples and a broad, conceptual discussion of arts education policies and policy outcomes that can be understood as following from anti-political moves. Based on the analysis, I offer recommendations for future policy analysis in arts education.