Want to change the world? Call in the art educators!
Art educators can equip people to challenge the status quo and demand change. The secret lies in love, hope, empathy and community — plus art.
The environmental crisis, social inequality and uneven distribution of power are some of the big issues that we face today. Many of the world’s problems seem too big to handle, but the truth is that we can make a difference.
In fact, we have an underused tool at our disposal. You probably didn’t see this coming: it’s art education.
The purpose of art education is to help people become active citizens and critical thinkers with curious minds and the ability to express their thoughts in a variety of ways but who also have the ability to understand and connect with the feelings of others. These individuals will lead productive lives and as a critically-thinking population, they can make a difference.
To be an active citizen, you need insight, commitment and empathy for others, but how can these skills be taught?
And how can we embrace the multitude of contexts, cultures, histories and meanings that students from different backgrounds bring to the table? We all know it’s not possible to force learning.
The answer is art. Art can communicate many things that cannot otherwise be expressed. Art can evoke emotions, it can convey messages both physically and intellectually, it can be analysed and critiqued. Art provides a platform, makes it possible for people to come together as equals, even if we approach things from different perspectives and experiences.
It all happens through people coming together. Art educators are masters at creating a supportive, cooperative atmosphere where every individual can be understood in a proper holistic perspective. In this setting, it’s possible to explore what is of value, find meaning, and commit to change — together. Enthusiasm, energy and a caring attitude make everything possible.
Love, hope and empathy for self and others may not be trendy today, but they are powerful tools in generating meaningful lives.
In their work, art educators combine multiple roles: they are artists, educators and activists. On top of that they possess a true superpower: by creating learning environments and enabling encounters that strengthen their students’ self-esteem and trust in their own abilities to generate change, by inviting people to accept and understand a diverse range of identities, and by evoking compassion for all, art educators are igniting action. And this can change the way we relate to others and to the world.
Anniina Suominen
Anniina Suominen is Associate Professor of Art Pedagogy at Aalto University’s School of Arts, Design and Architecture. She is especially interested in anti/non-normative educational, artistic, and cultural approaches that explore largely silenced issues such as climate anxiety, feminism and queer.
Read the book Feminism and Queer in Art Education by Anniina Suominen & Tiina Pusa
