Art
The importance of art and design to the curriculum
Art and design stimulates children’s creativity and imagination. It provides visual, tactile and sensory experiences and a way of understanding and responding to the world. Children are encouraged to use colour, pattern, texture, line, tone, shape, form space and different materials and processes to communicate what they see, feel and think. Through art craft and design activities they learn to make informed value judgements and aesthetic and practical decisions, becoming actively involved in making images, objects and learning to shape their own environment. They explore, through discussion and the making of art, the ideas and meanings in the work of artists, craftspeople and designers. They learn the part that art, craft and design plays in their own and others lives in contemporary life and in different times and cultures. This enables children to become involved in, enjoy understand and appreciate the visual arts which enriches their personal lives and enables them to understand the role they play in society.