Comenius project “IDEAlaboratory”

In 2010 – 2012 a collaboration project “IDEAlaboratory – how to integrate contemporary art and art education” will take place in the frame work of IDEAlaboratory. The project has been funded with support from the European Commission, under the Lifelong Learning Programme, sub-programme Comenius. Seven schools from Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Portugal participate in the project.

The aim of the project “IDEAlaboratory – how to integrate contemporary art and art education” is to bring contemporary art closer to art education. The outcome of the collaboration is an open and sustainable platform for learning and the exchange of ideas and best practices in art education. Bringing the hot topics of contemporary art into school lessons, developing up-to-date art curricula and methodology of art education are among the issues to be discussed.

Currently there is a noticeable gap between contemporary art and art education, which on one hand obstructs normal cultural development and reproduction, and on the other hand shows lack of effectiveness in education which reduces its ability to react to the social, environmental, economical and other challenges in the contemporary world.

Art education needs to be updated and the reason is not only the need to reflect current art practice. Contemporary art deals with a lot of important social, environmental, communication and cultural issues, it is closely connected to society and effects its mechanisms. Teaching contemporary art develops students’ general creativity and communication skills; raises skills of analysis and synthesis and ability to see connections between different subjects, in culture and society. The diverse mediums and topics dealt in the practice of contemporary art would be a perfect “tool” for integrating art with other subjects.

During the project five of the dominating problems in art education:

1. Lack of exchange of experience
Currently there is not enough time spent for pedagogical discussions about teaching contemporary art and there is not enough exchanging of skills and experiences in this field. During the project a sustainable platform for exchanging ideas and the best practices will be opened.

2. Lack of good methods
A lot of teachers lack of knowledge, skills and methods how to teach contemporary art. Contemporary art may be difficult to introduce, because of its diverse focuses, post-modernly scattered aims and principal difference from modern and classical art. Teaching contemporary art requires different training, other methods and more knowledge from teacher than teaching modern or classical art. During the project experiences are exchanged and new methods for teaching contemporary art are developed. The experience helps to supplement the “tool case” of methods of teachers.

3. Lack of motivation
Lacking a strong base and variety of methods for teaching contemporary art may lead to the lack of motivation and indifference to teach it at all. Enriching experiences and practice raises teachers’ motivation to integrate contemporary art into art lessons more.

4. Scant use of ICT-based methods
ICT-based methods and possibilities of computer technology and Internet could be used more in art education. Information and communication technology is part of our everyday life but still not part of education. During the project, in the workshops and local activity, participants test new possibilities for ICT-based methods, both for enriching the traditional art practices and connecting art lessons with relevant issues in contemporary world.

5. Scant us of interdisciplinary approach
The potential of art education as an instrument for integrating other subjects and through this promoting interdisciplinary approach in education is not fully used. The diverse mediums and topics dealt in the practice of contemporary art would be a perfect “tool” for integrating other subjects into art and vice verse. During the project we deal with issues which are actual in society and reflect them in art practice.

Participating schools
Seven schools from 4 countries participate in the project: Sally Stuudio (coordinator) and Tartu Childrens’ Art School from Estonia, Janis Rozentals Riga Art High School from Latvia, Vantaa Art School and Sara-Hildén Academy from Finland, Viriato High School and Alves Martin High School from Portugal.

Workshops
During the project six workshops are conducted in partner countries. All of the workshops focus on one important topic in contemporary art: ICT-based methods, borders between young and professional art and between traditional and urbanistic environment, problems of climate and environment, cultural heritage. Each of the workshops focus on one problem in teaching contemporary art: knowledge of young people and older generation, different learning environments, teaching thinking, political and ethical balance in contemporary art and teaching contemporary art, expressing an idea with artistic means, balance between traditional and contemporary in art education.

More information from the project coordinator
Sally Stuudio
Jane Remm
[email protected]
+371 641 8518

‘This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.’