In this presentation, Anne Reardon-James argues in favour of continued funding and support for informal and nonformal courses in the community, such as the arts.
I will outline my arguments in favour of continued funding and support for informal and nonformal courses in the community, such as the arts. I will discuss my lived experience as a community tutor, where I ‘cut my teeth’ as a trainee teacher. I will also carry out desk-based research on relevant policy areas and research reports in the field of community arts education, regarding the challenges and benefits of this type of learning. I will present key findings, using a mixed methods approach of quantitative data and qualitative perceptions from community learners and teachers. I will sum up my findings and arguments, with recommendations for continued support of the arts, ending with a call to action.
This presentation was given at The Next Chapter: 2nd Artist-Teacher in Adult Community Learning Conference in 2024.