Australian Coat of Arms Dr Brendan Nelson  
Australian Government Minister for Education
Science and Training and Training

Media Centre
   
Media Centre
 Email this page
 Print this page

Joint Media Release

 MINISTER FOR

 MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS

 EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TRAINING

 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS

 THE HON DR BRENDAN NELSON MP

 SENATOR THE HON HELEN COONAN

UP TO $250,000 TO RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANCE OF VISUAL COMMUNICATION

August 12, 2004  MIN 858/04

We are pleased to announce that our portfolios will provide up to $250,000 in funding towards a national review of visual communication and visual arts, craft and design in Australian educational institutions.

The review will investigate:

  • teacher preparation programmes;
  • State and Territory visual arts curriculum within schools;
  • participation in museum and gallery education;
  • University courses in the visual arts; and
  • approaches to teaching art and design at TAFE.

Visual literacy is a fundamental skill, increasingly as important as language and numeracy. We use it in our jobs, in our personal development and in our creative lives.

It is vital for everyone in the community to have the skills necessary to read and interpret information presented through modern visual mediums including computer systems, video phones, television, advertising and film.

This review will help ensure visual communication skills are developed and nurtured within the Australian education system.

A full proposal for this review is being developed by the Department of Education, Science and Training, the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, and the Australia Council in consultation with the visual education group of the National Visual Arts and Crafts Network and the National Association for the Visual Arts.

The Australian Government’s support of this review is another example of its commitment to foster creativity through our education system.

The review will also complement the Review of School Music Education which was announced in March by Dr Nelson and Senator Kemp.

A transcript of the launch of the Arts Education Report and the Announcement of the Arts Funding Research can be viewed at: http://www.dest.gov.au/Ministers/Media/Nelson/2004/08/n860130804.asp

For further information:
Dr Nelson’s Office:                                    Ross Hampton                       0419 484 095
Senator Coonan’s Office:                           Jane McMillan                         0438 690 305
Dept of Education, Science & Training:         Virginia Cook                          0412 971 323

 

Copyright  |  Disclaimer  |  Privacy Statement