Mend the gap! An overview of classroom-based arts education research in Australia

Abstract

Arts education is an internationally recognized term referencing education through the arts. The term arts is seen to encompass different things in different contexts, including but not limited to the performing arts- music, dance, drama, and theatre; visual arts, media, industrial arts, and literary arts. In this chapter, an overview of classroom-based arts education research in Australia is provided. The ‘gap’ in the literature describing and discussing classroom-based arts education is highlighted and provides the motivation for closer attention. Attendance to classroom-based arts education research in Australia is called for as the heart of curriculum transfer and transformation is in the classroom. Such attendance will establish a foundation that can bring about sustained policy and practice change.