A study on the arts and cultural activities for children in France

One of the main goals of modern French cultural policy is to ensure that all citizens can access culture. There is also an encouragement of the development of a culture that accounts for the multiplicity of cultures that exist within France. Such a policy requires a keen focus on educational practices that can help disseminate and democratise the very culture it purports to grant access to. These aims have resulted in the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of National Education in France signing an agreement and implementing a project that is based on both working together. Examples of the product of this partnership can be found in the students of neighbouring schools observing cultural artefacts in museums and art galleries. There are countless other projects led by local governments and educational authorities that are related to arts and culture, including collaborations with theatres, citizen associations, cinemas, libraries, radio stations, arts and cultural institutions, such as orchestras and artists, and between educational institutions and diverse related parties. The is aim is to sow the seeds of appreciation for art and culture from an early age. Associate Professor Dr Sumiko Kobayashi is a researcher who is taking a different approach, she is instead focussing on using a sociological approach to educational matters in order to enrich children's cultural and artistic experience. The ultimate objective of Kobayashi's research is to contribute to the development of children's arts and cultural activities for a diverse and inclusive society by clarifying the actual situation of the existing programmes.