Join ISTA for a timely and practical virtual professional development session focused on increasing student participation in IB Diploma Programme (DP) arts subjects—including theatre, visual arts, music, dance, film and media.

This event is FREE for ISTA members and non-members.

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Led by ISTA’s Executive Director, Dr Mike Bindon, this 90-minute session draws on recent doctoral research into the systemic and school-based barriers affecting arts enrolment in IB World Schools. Based on in-depth case studies from diverse IB World Schools, the session shares evidence-based insights and actionable strategies to help schools champion creativity and expand student access to the arts.

Participants will identify common barriers and explore practical, proven approaches to overcoming them—strengthening the presence and impact of the arts in their school communities.

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Learning objectives

In this workshop participants will:

• Examine the structural, cultural, and institutional barriers that limit arts participation in the DP.
• Understand the ‘enduring tensions’ around value, access, choice, and balance within the IB framework.
• Explore five key strategic categories (advocacy, marketing, counselling, teaching practices, and experiential exposure) that schools can adopt to boost enrolment in DP arts subjects.
• Reflect on case studies where these strategies have had measurable impact.
• Develop a personalised action plan to support advocacy for the arts within their own school contexts.

Schedule:

Region 1: Asia & Europe

• London, UK (GMT) - Saturday 17 January 2026 at 8:00-9:30 AM‍
• Amsterdam, Netherlands (CET) - Saturday 17 January 2026 at 9:00-10:30 AM ‍
• Singapore (SGT) - Saturday 17 January 2026 at 4:00-5:30 PM

(Booking will close 48 hours before the event)