The Ontario Curriculum in the Arts and the Creative Economy Agenda

Abstract

Abstract The rhetoric of the creative economy agenda has influenced the revised Ontario curriculum in the arts for grades 9–12. Yet, increasing rhetorical and substantive support for a creative economy agenda in Ontario at large is not sufficiently reflected in the revised Ontario arts curriculum. The expanded agenda is not matched by expanded substantive attention to the arts in the curriculum. Two new elective arts courses have been introduced in the revised curriculum; however, students are still only required to pass one art course to graduate from high school. This article argues that one compulsory art course is not sufficient to respond to the demands of the creative economy and thus recommends that further consideration of the curriculum be undertaken. Keywords: artscreative economycreativitycritical thinkingcurriculum