Since the early fifties of the past century, national and international development efforts, for multiple reasons, mainly focused on agriculture, industry, education and health.
However, since the ‘cultural turn’ of late 1980s and early 1990s, there is a growing recognition of the role of art in and for development. Arts and cultural activities can make a significant contribution to finding innovative and creative solutions for local and global challenges.
To understand cultural and artistic education as an essential part of an inclusive educational model means to open doors for a multi-facetted understanding of development and international co-operation. Both policymakers and stakeholders are beginning to see that art has the potential to play a leading role towards increasing the quality of life for many.