IB & Visual Arts at DIA

As an IB World School, DIA embraces the arts as a vital component of a holistic, internationally-minded education. Visual Arts supports the IB learner profile and fosters key Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills such as research, communication, and reflection. Through the MYP and DP Visual Arts pathways, students are empowered to explore meaningful questions, express ideas with depth, and connect their creative work to global contexts.

PYP and the Arts (Samples)

PYP Visual Arts Curriculum

At the Primary Years level, Visual Arts at DIA Emirates Hills invites young learners into a dynamic and expressive environment where ideas take shape through making, observing, and interpreting. The programme encourages exploration of materials, symbols, and meaning—allowing students to discover how art helps us understand ourselves and the world around us.

Students explore a variety of media and techniques, make personal and thematic connections, and build meaningful links between art, classroom inquiries, and real-life contexts. Each unit is thoughtfully designed to inspire wonder, cultural appreciation, and a sense of creative purpose.

Rather than focusing solely on outcomes, the emphasis is on the learning process—experimenting, discovering, and developing a sense of ownership in their work. Children investigate colour, shape, texture, and space while responding to artworks, stories, and diverse artistic traditions. They build visual awareness and personal insight through open-ended tasks and imaginative exploration.

Students also gain experience in planning, reflecting, and articulating their artistic choices, contributing to their development as thoughtful, observant individuals.

The PYP art programme instills an early appreciation for visual culture and sets the stage for deeper creative engagement in the Middle Years. It celebrates curiosity, expression, and joy in artistic learning from the very beginning.

MYP and the Arts (Samples)

MYP Visual Arts Curriculum

Our MYP Visual Arts programme at Dubai International Academy is designed to guide students through a progressive, inquiry-based journey that builds the creative, conceptual, and technical foundations necessary for confident artistic expression.

From Year 7 to Year 11, students explore a variety of themes, techniques, and media while developing the ability to think critically, reflect meaningfully, and communicate visually. Each year introduces new creative challenges that deepen their understanding of the artistic process and global contexts, while reinforcing key concepts such as identity, representation, and change.

Throughout the MYP years, students engage in units that emphasize personal interpretation, experimentation, and cultural awareness. They are encouraged to ask questions, take creative risks, and refine their work through ongoing feedback and reflection. Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills—such as organization, research, and communication—are woven into every stage of the artistic process.

This journey culminates in Year 11 with the creation of the MYP Visual Arts ePortfolio. This digital portfolio showcases each student’s growth, artistic voice, and ability to develop and present a cohesive body of work. It is both a reflective and curatorial exercise, where students select their strongest pieces, articulate their creative choices, and demonstrate their understanding of visual arts within a global and personal context.

The MYP Visual Arts curriculum not only prepares students for the demands of the IB Diploma Programme but also nurtures confident, thoughtful creators who can respond to the world through art.

DP and the Arts (Samples)

Diploma Programme Visual Arts

The DP Visual Arts course at Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills is a two-year journey of deep creative inquiry, conceptual development, and artistic refinement. Rooted in the IB learner profile, the programme empowers students to explore personal themes, global issues, and diverse artistic traditions while developing technical skill and creative confidence.

Students engage in three core components:

The Comparative Study: An independent, critical investigation of artworks by artists from different cultural and historical contexts. Students analyze formal qualities, function, and meaning while drawing connections to their own artistic practice.
The Process Portfolio: A curated collection of the student’s creative process, including experiments, media exploration, reflections, and written analysis. This portfolio highlights growth, decision-making, and the evolution of ideas over time.
The Exhibition: The culmination of the programme where students present a cohesive body of resolved artworks. This is accompanied by a curatorial rationale and reflects the student's personal voice, thematic direction, and technical maturity.

Throughout the course, students participate in studio-based work, peer critiques, gallery visits, and artist research. They explore traditional and digital media, develop original ideas, and learn how to communicate meaning through visual form. The programme is aligned with the IB’s emphasis on international mindedness, encouraging students to consider how art operates within diverse cultural, historical, and political contexts.

By the end of Year 13, students curate and install their own exhibition, showcasing 8–11 artworks (HL) or 4–7 (SL), demonstrating a well-developed artistic identity and an ability to engage audiences with clarity and purpose.

DIAEH is excited to welcome the new VADP syllabus soon, with the first teaching cohort starting in August 2025.