Basic Art Education
The curriculum for basic art education in Vörå follows the guidelines established by the Finnish National Agency for Education. (Finnish National Agency for Education: Regulations and Instructions 2017:11:b). The curriculum includes the goals and core content for each art field as established by the National Agency, student assessment, and the information to be recorded on certificates in basic art education.
The curriculum for basic art education in Vörå follows the guidelines established by the Finnish National Agency for Education. (Finnish National Agency for Education: Regulations and Instructions 2017:11:b). The curriculum includes the goals and core content for each art field as established by the National Agency, student assessment, and the information to be recorded on certificates in basic art education.
The curriculum for basic art education in Vörå-Oravais-Maxmo was approved on May 7, 2019, by Vörå Municipality's Leisure Committee. The curriculum will take effect starting August 1, 2019. The curriculum was revised in March 2025 and will be presented to the Committee for Quality of Life for approval in May 2025.
Basic art education refers to instruction in various art forms provided outside of school, primarily for children and young people. The art forms included in basic art education are architecture, visual arts, crafts, music, dance, media arts, literary arts, circus arts, and theater arts. The instruction is goal-oriented and progresses level by level.
Every person is unique and equally valuable. All students have the right to quality education. Different religions, beliefs, traditions, as well as diverse home views on upbringing, should be met with openness and respect. Cultural diversity is an asset. Activities are built on the diverse Finnish cultural heritage, which has been shaped and is continually shaped through interactions between different cultures. The Adult Education Center follows the equality and non-discrimination plan. The plan is specified for basic art education. The main goal of the instruction is to help children and young people develop a positive relationship with art and to provide them with strong knowledge and skills to create, practice, and present art in a versatile way. Another primary aim is to lay the foundation for a lifelong interest in art. Instruction should support the students’ growth, strengthen their personality, and develop their creative and social abilities, as well as their capacity to express themselves through art.
For basic art education, the Finnish National Agency for Education has established two curriculum bases: general and advanced courses. In Vörå municipality, visual arts and crafts follow the general course curriculum. Studies in the general course are divided into core studies and theme studies.
The scope of the core studies is calculated at 300 hours, and the scope of the theme studies is 200 hours. Therefore, the total scope of the general art course is 500 hours. One lesson is considered to be 45 minutes long.
The visual arts instruction follows the general curriculum, which covers 500 hours in total. The studies consist of core studies and themed studies. The core studies are estimated at 300 hours. Instruction in the core studies of visual arts includes 2 lessons per week, usually spanning 30 teaching weeks. After completing the core studies, students can move on to themed studies, which make up the final two study modules. The themed studies are estimated at 200 hours. Instruction is generally given for 3 hours per week. Themed studies can also include summer or weekend courses, or other equivalent activities, such as projects. The studies are divided into five study modules. These modules are DISCOVER, PRACTICE, EXPERIMENT, DEEPEN, and PERSONAL EXPRESSION. The first three modules are core studies, while the last two are themed studies.
During the core studies, students learn the basic skills of visual arts. Each school year, a theme is selected that serves as the guiding thread for the instruction. Students’ awareness of the theme gives them an opportunity to influence the content so that it reflects their own areas of interest. The studies are structured for continuous development, and as students progress, their skills broaden and deepen. The aim is to encourage and support each student’s artistic expression, their personal relationship with art, and their identity development. Through visual arts, students explore humanity as part of contemporary life, society, nature, and culture.
The general handicrafts curriculum consists of 500 hours. The studies are made up of core studies and themed studies. The core studies amount to 300 hours and are spread over 5 years. After completing the core studies, students can continue on to themed studies. The themed studies consist of 200 hours, divided over 3 years. The studies are mainly conducted during the Adult Education Centers academic year but may also take place as summer or weekend courses or as part of various projects. One lesson is counted as 45 minutes. The studies are divided into five learning modules. These modules are DISCOVER, PRACTICE, EXPERIMENT, DEEPEN, and PERSONAL EXPRESSION. The first three modules are core studies and the last two are themed studies.
The central content of the core studies in handicrafts is divided into the following areas: Clothing, Object and Textile Environments, Service Environments, and Built and Natural Environments. Within these studies, the different areas are examined from aesthetic, ethical, and ecological perspectives. In the core studies, students create products where usefulness and appropriate materials are the foundation; works where materials and techniques serve as a means of expression; and services focusing on participation, community, and well-being. Design is central and is present throughout the entire handicraft process. Traditional and innovative techniques, reuse, and natural materials are recurring themes.