Modalidades Artísticas na Região Autónoma da Madeira (Portugal): Das primeiras atividades de enriquecimento curricular à definição do atual modelo de política educativa (1985-2016)

In the Autonomous Region of Madeira (Portugal), the Regional Government, through its Arts Education Service and Multimedia Department (AESMD), has been running the project “Modalidades Artísticas” for 30 years. Such activities have been improved over the past three decades, until reaching the current model. In this paper we present data that describes the main stages of this project: from the first experiences of extra-curriculum activities (1985-1995); through the implementation of the project arising from the creation of the Full Time School (1995-2001); to the definition by law of the artistic extra-curriculum activities (2001-2007); and finally to the current model (2007-2016). The current model appears as a relevant educational policy instrument in the area of arts education, providing elements such as leadership; type of events to be developed; credited hours for schools devoted to the project; continuous teacher training in the various artistic domains; planning tools, monitoring and evaluation.