Background

The education system in India has long been structured around a strong emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) based learning; which often comes at the expense of arts education. Despite the undeniable value of the arts, school-based art programs continue to remain unprioritized, underfunded and underutilized – more so within underserved communities. 

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 stresses on the importance of structured arts curriculums, which are lacking in India due to factors like shortage of trained teachers, limited research and focus on examinations. A recent study conducted by the Brookings Institution also showed that engaging with art significantly improves one’s problem-solving, emotional regulation and overall academic performance in other subjects. Yet, children from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds often miss out on such benefits. 

Recognizing the urgent need to integrate arts education into mainstream learning, The Indian Arts Education Collective (IAEC) was founded to address just this while ensuring that students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to hone their talents. By incorporating various artistic disciplines, IAEC hopes to reshape the art landscape in Indian education and provide young learners with a holistic educational experience.