Ahead of the UNESCO World Conference on Arts Education in Lisbon, Portugal in early 2006, Australia Council is to host a national symposium, Backing Our Creativity, exploring the role of the arts and creativity in educating children and young people. The symposium, to be held in Melbourne from 13-14th September, aims to profile the positive impacts of arts-rich education, with a focus on the inter-relationship of research, practice and policy. It is also an opportunity for educators and artists to interact and discuss innovative ways to use the arts in education. A key component of the program, which targets teachers, artists, students, educators, policy makers, parents and researchers interested in the role of the arts in education, is the presentation of findings from significant research commissioned by the Council over the last three years. The research examines the impact of arts on teaching, learning and development for children and young people. The international keynote presenter is Sir Ken Robinson, Education Adviser to the Getty Institute and author of Out of Our Minds--Learning to be Creative. For further information, CLICK HERE