France is bolstering efforts to integrate arts and cultural education into the national school curriculum, with a recent focus on teacher training and project development. The initiative, driven by the “100% EAC” policy, aims to ensure all students have access to quality artistic, cultural, and scientific experiences throughout their schooling.
A new MOOC, “Monter une action en Education Artistique et Culturelle” (Developing an Action in Artistic and Cultural Education), launched by the Cnam’s Inseac (Institut national supérieur de l’éducation artistique et culturelle), is designed for professionals seeking to develop EAC projects. The course, available from September 26, 2024, to November 1, 2025, will cover the principles of designing and implementing EAC initiatives for school-aged children. Participants will learn to understand the objectives and challenges of EAC as a public policy, identify key actors and their roles, and analyze the impact of EAC on educational and cultural practices.
The push for enhanced EAC comes as the French government seeks to establish a “common culture” among educators and stakeholders. According to eduscol, the Ministry of National Education’s website, the goal is to ensure that EAC has a firm place within the school system. This requires a coordinated effort to train personnel and foster a shared understanding of EAC principles.
The Inseac offers a range of training programs, including initial and continuing education, as well as professional certifications. These programs are intended for students, teachers, artists, cultural mediators, and local officials, all with the aim of supporting the development of EAC projects nationwide. The institute emphasizes a collaborative approach, working with various ministries and stakeholders to achieve the “100% EAC” objective.
EAC initiatives encompass eight key domains: visual arts and heritage, cinema and audiovisual, scientific, technical, and industrial culture, history and memory, media and information literacy, literature and reading, music, and performing arts. The CNFPT (National Centre for the Training of Territorial Civil Servants) also offers training specifically for directors and teachers in artistic education, focusing on music, dance, and theatre.
A recent manifesto from the Réseau des INSPE (National Network of Schools for Teacher Education) calls for the systematic integration of EAC into both initial and continuing teacher training. The manifesto argues that all teachers need the tools to promote and value EAC within their classrooms, and emphasizes the importance of collaboration with cultural institutions to broaden access to these experiences.
The Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Culture are working in synergy to support these training efforts, recognizing the need for a multi-faceted approach to ensure the success of the “100% EAC” policy. The Inseac’s offerings include master’s level programs and specialized training blocks, designed to meet the diverse needs of professionals involved in EAC.
