There is significant research evidence internationally and in Australia on the beneficial effects that education in music, drama, visual arts, dance and creative writing has on the development of school children from the earliest years. These effects are evident not only in the cultivation in children of skills in and understanding of the art forms themselves, but also in children’s broader intellectual development and in their achievement in non-arts subjects across the board.

The major program through which Arts NSW is engaged in arts education in cooperation with DET is ConnectEd Arts, a strategy providing access to quality arts education to students and teachers in disadvantaged Government schools. ConnectEd is recognised in the State Plan as an important strategy addressing education and arts for disadvantaged students and their teachers.

The fundamental aim of the strategy is to enhance the valuing of the arts in schools and in school communities by providing quality arts experiences. Genuine valuing leads to the curriculum offering options and opportunities for students in education, life and work.

ConnectEd Arts is a joint initiative of Arts NSW and the Department of Education and Training. While Arts NSW is responsible for the funding, management and reporting of ConnectEd Arts, both agencies are involved in the planning and delivery of the program. In addition, DET provides in-kind resources to support the research and delivery of the program.

The program targets schools which have been identified by the Department of Education and Training (DET) as either geographically and/or socio-economically disadvantaged.

Schools registered for the Country Assistance Program (CAP) and the Priority Schools Program (PSP) are given priority.

The program has a number pathways, providing a variety of entry points to professional arts engagement. They are:

• Access Grants (ticket and travel subsidies)

• Outreach Programs

• Performing Arts Touring

• Teacher Placement Program

• Residential Indigenous Arts Camps and outreach programs

The ConnectEd program targets a different region each year:

• In 2005 ConnectEd programs were delivered in the South-East (Wollongong to Bega)
• In 2006 it was the Western Region which covered Bathurst to Broken Hill, including Bourke and Wentworth
• In 2007 the strategy focussed on the north-east – Gosford to Tweed
• In 2008 the strategy focussed on the Riverina area

• In 2009 the strategy has been in review and as a result taken a state wide approach to funding