This yearbook reflects the growing practice around the world of interchanging the terms arts education and cultural education to such an Extent that they may eventually be regarded as (nearly) synonymous. We question if there are differences, and how arts and cultural education may be interwoven in different regions of the world. With this in mind, we want to reconsider fundamental questions of what arts education is about. The articles of this volume analyse and discuss the possibilities and challenges of arts and cultural education around the world.

The Seoul Agenda: Goals for the Development of Arts Education was unanimously endorsed by all UNESCO Member States in 2011. It is the only existent policy paper of global relevance on arts education. It provided the frame of reference for an international inquiry into arts education experts’ perceptions of key issues in the field: access and participation, quality, and the benefits of arts education. Nearly 400 experts from 61 countries around the world participated in this research. The book presents findings, commentaries, and reflections contributed by 51 international scholars and expert practitioners.