Poland

Last update: December, 2020

The Ministry of Education is responsible for arts education at primary and secondary levels. The programme is insufficient, although in 2008 a positive trend was initiated when the Minister of Education introduced new guidelines increasing the number of music and art lessons at schools. The basic school programme is supported by cultural centres and activities of other institutions, which provide their own arts education programmes.

The reform of the education system from 2017 introduced two levels of education: primary school (lasting eight years) and secondary school (lasting four years), instead of the previous three-level system (six-year primary school, three-year lower secondary school, three-year upper secondary school). Two basic art courses are taught at both levels: music and fine arts. On a primary level, both subjects are compulsory for grades four to seven and account for one hour a week each. On a secondary level, a headmaster of a school can choose between philosophy, music and fine arts as the subject to teach in the first year for one hour a week. 

Additionally, secondary schools might expend their curricula to include art history, music history, Latin and ancient culture, or philosophy (eight hours a week), in order to provide students with specialised and advanced knowledge of these topics, if they choose to continue studying arts at a tertiary level. The Polish education system allows students to pass the secondary school-leaving examination in those subjects.

In addition to the aforementioned system, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage's cultural education programme supports extracurricular cultural activities developed by cultural institutions. The main goal of the programme is to support cultural education activities as an important element of the development of the social capital. The beneficiaries of the programme are chosen on the basis of a call for proposals. 

Last update: December, 2020

The art education system in Poland is separated from the general preparatory education system. Some art schools in Poland carry out both curricula, general and artistic, while other schools focus solely on professional artistic education. Students attending art schools focused solely on artistic curriculum are also obliged to attend general preparatory schools on primary and secondary levels.

According to the Ordinance of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from May 26^th, 2017, the classification of art schools on primary and secondary levels is as follows:

Music schools

1. Public and private primary music schools, which:
   1. carry out regular and artistic curricula, concluded with a final exam in general knowledge and basic musical education,
   2. carry out the artistic curriculum, concluded with a final exam in basic musical education.
2. Public and private secondary music schools, which:
   1. carry out regular and artistic curricula, concluded with a secondary school-leaving examination (Matura exam) and a professional music diploma exam awarding professional certification,
   2. carry out the artistic curriculum, concluded with a professional music diploma exam awarding professional certification.
3. Post-secondary music schools leading to a professional certification.

Fine arts schools

1. Public and private secondary fine arts schools, which:
   1. carry out regular and artistic curricula, concluded with a secondary school-leaving examination (Matura exam) and a diploma exam awarding professional certification,
   2. carry out the artistic curriculum, concluded with a diploma exam awarding professional certification.
2. Post-secondary fine arts schools leading to a professional certification.

Dance schools

1. Public and private ballet schools (nine-year cycle corresponding to the upper-primary and secondary levels), which carry out regular and artistic curricula, concluded with a secondary school-leaving examination (Matura exam) and a professional diploma exam awarding professional certification.
2. Public and private dance schools (nine-year cycle corresponding to the upper-primary and secondary levels), which carry out artistic curricula, concluded with a professional diploma exam awarding professional certification.

Circus arts schools

1. Public and private circus arts schools (three-year cycle) concluded with a professional diploma exam, leading to a professional certification.

In the 2018/2019 school year, there were 534 art schools not leading to a professional certification with 66 899 students (1,8% less as compared to the 2017-2018 school year); 268 schools leading to professional certification with 23 601 students; and 49 post-secondary art schools.

Number of art schools and students

Source: Central Statistical Office

Last update: December, 2020

Number of students in higher arts education

Source:
Central Statistical Office

In the academic year 2018/2019, there were 21 higher arts education institutions of which 19 were public. The curricula included 72 different fields of study. The total number of students amounted to 16 813 – 1,4% of all students in Poland.

Examples demonstrating the implementation of the Bologna process in Poland are visible especially on the administrative side of education. Many higher education institutions have modified their systems of evaluating students' work. Since the academic year 2004/2005, university graduates receive special supplements to diplomas which contain detailed information about their education process, exam results, qualifications and also the number of gained ECTS points.

Thanks to the implementation of the Bologna agreement, several institutions have been modernised. One of these is the State Accreditation Committee which monitors and evaluates the quality of teaching in public and private universities.

Other positive impacts of the Bologna process include the increasing mobility of Polish students and many pro-European elements have been added to the curricula of arts and humanities faculties.

Last update: December, 2020

Cultural and arts education, performed outside the school educational system, is based mostly on programmes offered by various cultural institutions. At the state level, the best example is the activity of the National Centre for Culture, which leads multiple educational programmes for children and youth, e.g. "Rhythm" dedicated to dance and music, and "TISZ" based on theatrical education. There are also some projects implemented by NGOs, e.g. New Horizons of Film Education led by the New Horizons Association or The Association of the Creative Initiatives "ę".

Last update: December, 2020

The professional post-graduation training system in Poland is still very limited. Some professional institutions provide young professionals with training. Orchestra academies for young professional musicians are a good example of such initiatives, where music graduates can perform alongside professional orchestra musicians, who provide them with support and training. However, even those are still scarce. Most of the professional training takes place in schools (secondary and tertiary levels).

For art managers and those who wish to pursue a career in arts administration, the National Centre for Culture and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage introduced an internship programme, which allows public and private cultural institutions to hire interns under the governmental regulations. The programme runs twice a year and the standard duration of an internship varies between 160 and 320 hours.