Teaching artistry and active citizenship
Teaching Artistry: a dynamic practice that empowers communities
By encouraging engagement, critical thinking, and collective action, teaching artists use participatory approaches to help individuals connect with societal challenges and opportunities. Through the combination of artistic methods with civic education, teaching artistry fosters environments where participants can explore their identities, confront societal inequities, and co-create solutions. This practice bridges the gap between creative expression and civic responsibility, providing communities with tools to actively shape their social landscapes.
Active citizenship: Leveraging collective action for change
The “Cloaked in Our Love” project exemplifies this potential by blending cultural regeneration with active citizenship. This initiative brought together Aboriginal and Māori cloak makers to revitalize traditional practices that were nearly extinct. By creating garments embedded with intergenerational stories, language, and cultural identity, the project not only preserved heritage but also empowered participants to take ownership of their cultural narratives. This work became a site of social justice, catalyzing community transformation and fostering a shared commitment to cultural and civic wellbeing.
The ITAC6-ITAC7 connecting project, led by Dr. Hinekura Smith and her colleagues, demonstrates the role of teaching artistry in fostering global active citizenship. Funded by the hosts of ITAC6 and ITAC7, this initiative bridged these two international events through collaborative workshops and exchanges. Participants engaged in co-creation, ceremonies, and learning that emphasized the importance of addressing social and cultural challenges collectively. This project showcased the transformative potential of teaching artistry to build connections across diverse communities while promoting shared responsibility for societal change.
Through projects like Cloaked in Our Love and the ITAC6-ITAC7 connecting initiative, teaching artistry underscores its capacity to integrate creativity with civic engagement on both local and global scales. These efforts highlight the power of art to inspire action, foster collaboration, and amplify voices in addressing systemic inequities. By bridging cultural preservation and societal transformation, teaching artists pave the way for communities to actively shape a more just and inclusive future.
