Promoting the Aesthetic Experience: The Rise of Receptive Art Education in the Netherlands

In 1999, a mandatory and interdisciplinary art course, Cultural and Artistic Education (Culturele en Kunstzinnige Vorming, or CKV), was introduced in the Dutch secondary school system. The course focuses on receptive, rather than active, art education. Cultural activities, such as visiting an art exhibition or a theatre performance, form the core elements. This article describes a qualitative field study about CKV with a special focus on the selection of cultural activities and the quality criteria that inform these choices. The study was performed using open, in-depth interviews with schoolteachers, students, and educators working at theatres and theatre companies. This article not only summarizes the results of the study but also deals with the question of how public authorities, schools, teachers, and cultural organizations can improve the quality of art education within the curriculum