Civic and voter education are cultural activities. They are bound up with the expression of people's human rights and social organisation. They require interaction between people, thoughtful passion, and the evocation of feelings and interdependence.
Most education happens, however, in relatively sterile and highly conceptual environments. But human learning and expression is deeply embedded through words, dance, drama and play. The incredible impact and energy that is reported in those relatively few voter education programmes involving drama bears this out.
So it is disappointing to find so few examples of the use of arts and culture to promote democracy, civic responsibility, human rights and voter education. The following sections contain comments on arts programmes and offer suggestions for ways in which the arts can be included in educational programmes:
