Performing arts education overview
Based on a survey of senior arts education staff members and artistic directors of 50 Toronto-area performing arts companies, this report provides information about the range, reach and impact of the arts education programs of dance, music, opera and theatre organizations in the Toronto area.
The goal of the project partners (the Creative Trust and the Professional Arts Organizations Network for Education) was to support companies in their continued development of arts education programs and activities that lead to successful audience development and community engagement.
The survey found that over one-half million people of all ages (537,000) participated in the arts education activities of the performing arts organizations responding to the survey. The programs of the 37 organizations active in schools reached over 4,000 schools in 2009-10.
Respondents identified three main challenges in their arts education work: 1) finding adequate funding; 2) communicating the value of the work that they do (outside of their own organizations); and 3) lack of time or overwork.
Respondents also identified particular successes, such as specific arts education programs, their longevity in the field, or their impacts on arts education participants.
The summary report and the full report, both of which are available below, also contain information about the types and goals of arts education programs provided by the organizations for children, youth, and adults, as well as programs targeted to specific groups or communities. The report also identifies organizations’ spending and funding on arts education, the history of arts education within responding organizations, the internal status of arts education, the budgetary position of arts education, respondents’ self-assessed quality of their arts education programs, as well as skills development needs within responding performing arts organizations.
