Arts and Cultural Education in Iceland : Professor Anne Bamford

(teacher a professional photographer)
10 grade - same as 9th grade.
The general view of the school, and of the principal, is that everyone is good at something. The school gets excellent
math results – not quite as good in the sciences. When asked about the PISA score for Iceland: “I think it's fine; we
have good support from the parents. If they are pleased, we must be doing something right“.
Vignette 4.2.1 underlines the value placed on the arts in the curriculum. As the next section
(4.3) outlines in more detail, parents are supportive of the place of the arts within the
curriculum.
4.3 The role of parents
‣ Parents are very supportive of the value of the arts in education
Parents play a crucial role both as political advocates for the arts and as supporters of their
children’s art learning. In Iceland parents are very active in relation to their children’s arts
learning. While it could be argued that Icelandic parents are not greatly involved in formal school
processes (apart from being active audience members for performances and festivals), they are
very active in supporting after school activities. Parents regularly transport children to music
schools, amateur theatre and dance classes. They are keen too on sport but see the arts and
sport as offering different benefits to children. As the following quotes for the parents’ focus
group suggest, parents are keen for there to be more of a focus on arts and creativity at all levels
of the school curriculum:
There can never be too much art in schools.
In my child's school they get art for 2 months, then textile or computer. This is really bad.
Children need longer classes in the arts so they can go deeper.
We need better arts in day care.
The arts are not taken seriously enough in Iceland. It is like they are a hobby. You don’t really start doing 'real' art
until you are 15 years old.
School is nowhere near creative enough. I don’t think that teachers have the background to do it. They are just
not cultural aware. Teachers need better education in creative and cultural ways to teach.
There are lots and lots of learning in the arts.
The following notes from a parents' focus group conducted in Reykjavik as part of the
research evidence the high value placed on the arts by parents:
Vignette 4.3.1 A focus group with parents
There are seven parents in the focus group (five women and two men). The focus group was conducted in
a meeting room with afternoon tea provided. The atmosphere was relaxed and encouraged free exchange
of ideas. The participants were as follows:
Ásdís: mother of an 8 year old autistic child who does not go to school.
Helga: mother of two children, 9 and 17 years
Jóhanna: mother of two children who study ballet and music
Kjartan: father of two children that participate in sports
Lára: mother of four children, including one who has Down syndrome, one who studies music
Rannveig: mother of three children who study dance and music
Þorlákur: father of two children
The comment was made around the table, “There can never too much art! The art course is the only
course that my 9 year old talks about... It is bad that they don't have anything in the older grades.”
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