It’s a tough genre, primarily because the bulk of these sorts of videos tend to be promotional (see boring).

There’s a reason for this, I think, and it’s because video production isn’t cheap and there’s pressure to promote your own work. Moreover, showing process is a pretty tricky thing. Without the process, well, there’s no reference point for what you are really talking about. Too much process, and you risk pushing your audience away.

Here’s a wonderful video from the Seattle Arts Education Consortium. It succeeds in giving a good sense of exactly what arts education looks like in a classroom, with lots of footage involving kids and teachers. And, it’s got some excellent context and even a few talking heads!

How effective this piece is on a practical basis is another question, that can only be answered by what the producers hoped to achieve with it.

What are the stereotypes in education films today? Is it the image of kids in uniforms? Is it the reassurance that someone gets from viewing kids seated at desks taking tests, followed by a caption that shows the increased test scores?

Perhaps it won’t be long before the films are created that show the good teachers getting bonuses and the bad teachers getting the proverbial boot, followed by some sort of approbation, such as a smiling mayor or governor giving the thumbs up.

The search for the best media about arts education tend to suffer from the same problems as the search for the right message.

I would like to think that this video is a good place for us to move forward from.

Powerful Learning Through The Arts from Brian Quist on Vimeo.