Arts teaching in Croydon was boosted by a special conference at the Fairfield last Thursday to improve standards.

Artsvoice on October 18 was aimed at teachers, youth workers, adult education lecturers, artists and arts organisations.

The Croydon Council and London Arts supported event was organised by the Croydon Arts Education Strategy group as part of its ongoing drive to stimulate greater dialogue between arts bodies and education providers in the borough.

The focus of the conference was the All Our Futures report produced by the National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education (NACCCE) in 1999.

This identified the crucial importance of creativity across the curriculum as a tool for raising academic achievement.

There were discussion groups with talks from the Director of Education, Creative Partnerships, ArtsMark and Keynote speeches by Anna Leatherdale and Victoria Todd who are members of NACCCE.

The day also provided the ideal chance to establish useful contacts, as well as to find out more about training opportunities for teachers, community leaders and artists.

Croydon's cabinet member for education, Councillor Louisa Woodley, said: "Art has a very important role to play in nurturing creative thought and confidence building.

"This conference is an ideal forum for all those involved in arts education to discuss the future development of initiatives locally, as they compare experiences and ideas and consider specific aims and targets."

October 24, 2001 10:00