What kind of a year has 2013 been for you?
Challenging and exciting. The NSEAD has had a successful year, and very busy, keeping up with responses to government policy across the education and cultural sectors, running professional development programmes and creating resources. It’s been special too, because this year we celebrate 125 years of supporting teachers and defending art, craft and design.
What has changed for the better and what, if anything, has changed for the worse?
What has changed for the better? I hope the newly formed All Party Parliamentary Group for Art, Craft and Design Education initiated by our dynamic president will make a change by taking our voice literally into the heart of government. Changing for the worse? How much worse could government policy get for subjects like art and design?
What do you wish hadn’t happened this year?
I wish we had been able to further influence the final draft of the National Curriculum for art and design. We invested time in consulting with the Department of Education and yes, we were listened to, but not enough to provide children and young people with a world-class curriculum fit for purpose for the 21st century. However, we have written our own version!
What do you wish had happened this year, but didn’t?
I wish I had had more time!
What would you characterise as your major achievement this year and why?
Being able to get out into our community of teachers of art, craft and design and talk and listen to members and get a real feel for their issues and concerns. And engaging in our online community on NSEAD Facebook, where I can join in with conversations and see the work that teachers are facilitating and inspiring in classrooms across the UK.
Is there anything you’d like to have done this year but haven’t?
Many things! I would have liked greater funding success to carry on our two professional development programmes, Skills in the Making and TEA. I really enjoyed going to the Art Party in Scarborough with Bob and Roberta Smith, and meeting artists, gallerists, arts organisations and teachers. I wish I’d had the energy to party all night!
What would make 2014 a better year than 2013?
A greater understanding of the depth, breadth, value and future of art, craft and design education within government thinking and policy. More funding coming into schools for subject-based professional development for teachers of art, craft and design, especially ‘getting out’ of school into the museum and gallery sector and working alongside artists, makers and designers; more funding available for organisations such as NSEAD, the Campaign for Drawing, engage and Axisweb to better support and develop learning across the education and cultural sectors; the dismantling of barriers to engagement in our subject – the E-Bacc, the discount codes and the ‘facilitating subjects’.
