Experiencing and understanding the arts as a compulsory final examination subject in the Netherlands: Purpose, problems, revision and effects

The Netherlands is probably the only country in the world where all students in secondary education have to take a compulsory final exam in experiencing and understanding of the arts. This exam, named Cultural and Artistic Education (CKV), concentrates on the active experience and appreciation of live professional performances, presentations and public presence of the arts. After its introduction, in 1999, this exam subject faced some serious problems and was almost removed from the exam system. Thanks to a strong lobby of art teachers, art institutions and art organizations, the subject was saved from annihilation, but only on the condition the examination programme was completely revised and made acceptable to the national Parliament and Ministry. This article informs about the goals of this subject exam (CKV) and the ways these goals should or could be met, the history of its introduction, the difficulties arising after its implementation, the way these difficulties have been addressed by the Ministry and community of arts teachers, and the new examination programme that has become effective as of August 2017. The article also gives information about research done on the impact of CKV on student learning and on the participation of former students in cultural activities after they left school.