HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 31 May 2024 - To foster a deeper understanding and facilitate the exchange of ideas regarding arts-based creative learning among various stakeholders in the educational and artistic communities, The Absolutely Fabulous Theatre Connection (AFTEC) is organising a two-day forum from May 31 to June 1 at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, themed Knowledge Exchange - Re-imagining Creative Futures. Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, AFTEC's Jockey Club Arts-based Cross Curriculum Creative Learning Project holds the Knowledge Exchange forum annually. A key feature of the forum will be the keynote speeches delivered by overseas experts committed to promoting creative teaching approaches. Distinguished speakers will include Mrs Clara Lim-Tan, Director, Arts Education Branch, Ministry of Education, Singapore, and Ms Sharon Foster, Executive Director, Curriculum, Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). They will explore the significance of creative teaching, addressing the topics of Learning to Flourish in the Future: The Creative Imperative and Embedding Creative Thinking into the Education System (Assessment too!), respectively. The forum will showcase interactive classroom experiences from eight local pilot primary schools and host two themed discussions on the topics of Breaking New Ground: Three Years of Learning & Change and Growing Arts & Education Partnerships – Why & How? The event will gather representatives from both the local and overseas education and arts communities to reflect on the past, assess the present, and envision the future. The first discussion will focus on utilising the arts to create cross-disciplinary platforms, facilitating the sharing, implementation and stimulation of innovative ideas to seamlessly incorporate creative learning into standard education. The second discussion will evaluate the current landscape in Hong Kong, examining ways to foster partnerships between the arts and education through cross-sector collaboration, thereby enhancing creative thinking and driving transformative changes in contemporary education and the arts. Ms Lynn Yau, Chief Executive Officer, AFTEC and Project Director, Jockey Club Arts-based Cross Curriculum Creative Learning Project,said: "As early as in 2006, UNESCO organised a meeting in Seoul, bringing together culture and education ministers from across the globe to collaboratively create a framework for Culture and Arts Education. This framework was designed to encourage and guide international partners in the fields of culture and education to foster innovative approaches in arts education. Since its inception, AFTEC has dedicated itself to providing exceptional and high-quality 'arts-in-education' experiences that stand apart from conventional, structured classroom education. The Jockey Club Arts-based Cross Curriculum Creative Learning Project employs thematic teaching and cross-disciplinary project-based learning to develop the '5Cs' in the new generation – Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Contribution – upskilling and preparing them to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. We eagerly anticipate the launch of the second phase of the Project. This forthcoming phase will continue to stress the significance of creative learning, enhance ongoing professional development for educators, and further advance innovation and progress in the educational field, filling the gaps in traditional education by nurturing creative thinking." Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Winnie Yip, Head of Charities (Culture, Sports and Community Engagement) at The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said the Club has always been committed to the promotion of arts, culture and heritage conservation in the community. The Club has supported this project of The Absolutely Fabulous Theatre Connection since 2021. It harnesses the arts to facilitate thematic teaching and interdisciplinary hybrid learning models, enhancing youngsters' abilities in advanced and multi-perspective thinking, resilience and independent learning, and the results have been encouraging. The Club is pleased to see the launch of a new chapter of the project in the coming school year. It will provide more diversified training courses and cooperate with tertiary institutions and art institutions to cultivate more teachers and creative practitioners who are interested in joining creative education. It is hoped that the project will serve as a reference for the advancement of sustainable arts and creative education in Hong Kong. Planning for the Second Phase of School Recruitment The AFTEC Jockey Club Creative Futures Project is a continuation and expansion of the Creative Learning Model of the Jockey Club Arts-based Cross Curriculum Creative Learning Project, initially piloted from...