摘要：In order to achieve a comprehensive artistic development of students, contemporary visual arts education should combine and at the same time develop productive and receptive art activities. Nevertheless, greater emphasis is still placed on artistic expression than on developing art appreciation. Students have fewer opportunities for observing artwork, understanding and enjoying it. The present study follows the development of art appreciation abilities of students in five grades of primary schools in two different educational systems, i.e. the Slovenian and the Croatian. The difference lies in the weekly number of hours allocated to visual arts education and in the teachers teaching this subject. The results indicate that the level of appreciation abilities is rather average, with girls displaying a higher level of development. The number of hours of visual arts education has positive effects on the level of art appreciation, and a higher quality of the lesson has more favorable effects on art reception. There were no statistically significant differences in the level of appreciation abilities with regard to country.
关键词：art appreciation; primary school; school systems of Slovenia and Croatia; visual arts education
