Wider Picture World Stage

Arts Education and Global Citizenship in the Primary School

The arts can be a powerful medium for exploring global issues as they involve people on an emotional as well as an intellectual level. Through work in visual arts, for example, children can explore their feelings about an issue, communicate their thoughts and feelings and experience diverse arts and crafts first hand. Drama lends itself to issues-based work and allows children to experience other points of view, problem solve and to feel empathy for people in different situations. Receiving a visit from an African drummer or storyteller can be a very positive experience of diversity for children in mainly mono-cultural schools. Witnessing pupils taking part in these kinds of experiences can inspire teachers to further develop their global citizenship work in other curriculum areas too.

Wider Picture World Stage is developing partnerships with arts organisations and individual artists locally and working with the arts education co-ordinator for Derby City Council. Wider Picture World Stage receives funding from the European Commission and the Department for International Development.

Core School involvement

Throughout the three year funded period GED is working closely with six core schools on whole school curriculum development.

• Pear Tree Junior School - Derby
• Heanor Cluster (5 schools): Marlpool Infant School, Marlpool Junior School, Langley Mill Infant School, Heanor Langley Infant School and Aldecar Infant School.

These schools have identified where global citizenship currently occurs in the curriculum and where it could be enhanced. They are also working on whole school policy development on global citizenship.

The work in these schools will be formally evaluated and will inform national debate on using the arts as a starting point for developing the global dimension in primary schools.

Additional School Involvement

Each year funding allows for 10 additional schools to be involved in Wider Picture World Stage. These schools work with artists and receive INSET from GED to ensure that the arts workshops have a wider impact on the school. Schools involved are encouraged to attend 'Showcase Days' where they can share their work and bring the project to the attention of a new set of schools.

If you are a primary teacher or an arts educator interested in becoming involved then please contact linda@globaleducationderby.org.uk at GED.

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