The Arts in Schools - Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

want to draw attention to some of the fundamental motiveswhich inform this movement and to endorse their value inprinciple within the terms of this report.220 Potential First, we have emphasised that education must take accountbenefits of the diversity and complexity of children's interests and experiencesas members of varying cultural groups. This schooland others seek to do this directly by dissolving the institutionalbarriers of education and by opening the school as ageneral resource for local people, The emphasis here is onincreasing both the quantity and the quality of opportunitiesfor learning and development.Second, there is a recognition of the important relationshipswhich must be fostered between children and the adultworld. Adults not only use the facilities of the school duringthe day, they also participate in some of the same lessonswith pupils on GCE courses. Staff at the school have commentedon the positive benefits this has had on the attitudesof the pupils themselves to the work by giving it a differentstatus for them.Third, the need for, and the value of, co-operation andco-ordination is illustrated in two ways:a between groups and organisations in joint ventures ofcommon interest as with the links between the schooland the local arts associationb in promoting the multi-purpose use of expensive plantand equipment. This school is used day and evening andduring weekends and holidays. This has benefits on allsides: the community education programme is fundedby it and local groups have space and facilities for theirown workFourth, the benefits in these undertakings are mutual. Thelocal community is helping to broaden and enliven the workof the school, whilst the community itself is, potentially,being enriched by the new opportunities which are madeavailable both materially and educationally. It is here aboveall, in the reciprocation of benefits and opportunities, thatthe real value of community-based education lies. Artsactivities and events can play a key part in this process ofexchange and development through bringing together youngand old, men and women from all sections of the communityfor productions of plays, and concerts; in mounting exhibitionsof pictures, sculpture and pottery; for dances, readings and soon. In these ways a community can enrich its environmentand social existence and add to its sense of identity and purpose.Such provision need not entail significant extra expend-129