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Long before we learn about numeric constants, or genes, or the periodic table, we interpret the world through art – drawing images, telling stories, playing make-believe. This form of self-reflection is well known and encouraged in early childhood education. However, the time dedicated to the arts drops with every school year; in lower secondary level, it often amounts to an annual 25-75 hours, even less than physical education. Clearly, the arts matter, but how can they gain ground in the curriculum? These projects show that a little creativity goes a long way!

Cultural Awareness and Expression, one of the eight key competences for lifelong learning, involves appreciation of the creative expression of ideas, experiences and emotions and active creation in a range of media (music, performing arts, literature and the visual arts). It is a competence that is increasingly used as a cross-curricular tool in European classrooms and it includes a solid knowledge of local, national and European cultural heritage.