The Flemish government is introducing a new initiative to strengthen collaboration between the education and cultural sectors, ensuring that all students engage with art and culture during their school years. The program includes the creation of a quality framework for cultural education and the introduction of new roles to support its implementation, as announced by Flemish Ministers of Culture Caroline Gennez and Education Zuhal Demir.
The quality framework will expand and deepen existing learning objectives for art and culture in both primary and secondary education. It will be developed by a group of experts in consultation with stakeholders from the education and cultural sectors, providing clear guidance and standards for schools and cultural organizations.
Two new professional roles, cultural educators and cultural specialists, will be introduced to assist schools and cultural organizations in developing structured learning pathways for children and young people. For the first time, dedicated funding will support the creation of educational materials linked to performances and exhibitions, enabling a shared framework and common language between schools and cultural institutions.
The existing Cultuurkuur platform will be enhanced as a digital hub, giving teachers access to inspiration, teaching resources, and offerings from cultural organizations in a single location. The expert group will begin its work this year, with the initiative set to launch in the next school year and gradually roll out. An additional €4.8 million will be invested by 2029 to support its implementation.
Once fully implemented, the initiative aims to ensure that every student has the opportunity to engage with art and culture, improving the quality of cultural lessons and positioning the cultural sector as a key partner in the development of teaching materials and school activities.
