Reimaging art education

Breakout Session 1: Thursday 21 November 14:30 - 16:30
Marinda Verhoeven, Paulien Oosterhuis, HKU University of the Arts Utrecht, Netherlands

Discover the transformative power of artistic intelligence in the educational realm with this session presented by HKU Design. Unfolding since 2016, the initiative reshapes arts education, creating a pluralistic space for the emergence of alternatives. The session delves into a systemic exploration of crucial elements in educational and pedagogical design from a multi-perspective standpoint. Attendees will engage in iterative activities, using visual imagery and objects to reflect on systemic relations within educational set-ups. From student to dean, participants will experiment with altering arrangements to enhance artistic intelligence. The session prompts reflection on interventions necessary for future art and design education, emphasising the importance of plural voices. Strengthening artistic intelligence within systems ultimately empowers artists and designers to contribute significantly to social transformations. Join this session to envision a more inclusive and impactful future for arts education.

 

Creative Education in the Global South

Breakout Session 1: Thursday 21 November 14:30 - 16:30
Juan Pablo Aschner, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia

Unveil the outcomes of ‘Creative Education in the Global South’, a research project funded by the Open Society University Network, in an interactive conference session. This research delves into pedagogical models for both practical and theoretical subjects in higher education, specifically within artistic and creative disciplines. Crossing traditional academic boundaries, our comprehensive approach explores education and creative sovereignties in the Global South, considering unique geographical and social contexts. Through interviews, case studies, and literature reviews, we gain insights into current educational practices within the cultural sector. This session engages participants in a dialogue, addressing key questions on pedagogical practices, motivating interest in indigenous knowledge, and developing frameworks for investigating and preserving traditional artisanal knowledge. Join us for a collective exploration of these crucial topics, contributing to the discourse on global education.

 

We Teach Creativity: The case for Critical Creativity over Artistic Intelligence

Breakout Session 1: Thursday 21 November 14:30 - 16:30
Hilary Carlisle, Norwich University of the Arts, United Kingdom

This session advocates for ‘Critical Creativity’ as a contemporary and inclusive term encompassing attributes like reflection, curiosity, and creative risk-taking. It challenges traditional notions of intelligence, emphasising the distinction between achieving outcomes and exploring the world. The discussion delves into whether the concept of artistic intelligence may perpetuate fixed creative capacity, contrasting it with the ability to nurture critical creativity through staged learning. Norwich's Creative Learning Strategy rejects the expectation of fully formed creatives, focusing on developing resilience and creative confidence. Aligning with the World Economic Forum's emphasis on skills like resilience, flexibility, and curiosity, this participatory session prompts delegates to explore critical creativity and artistic intelligence within their contexts through questions and provocations. The goal is to encourage a dynamic understanding of creativity as a learned and evolving skill in higher arts education.

 

Placing artists in industry – a good recipe for learning? Sculpture and Environmental Art Students and Midton Acrylics: A Case Study

Breakout Session 2: Thursday 21 November 17:00 - 18:30
Justin Carter, Susan Brind, April Lannighan, Garrett Ure, The Glasgow School of Art, United Kingdom

The Glasgow School of Art's Sculpture & Environmental Art Department (SEA) invites you to explore their ongoing collaboration with Midton Acrylics, focusing on the innovative use of the recycled material 'Remade'. This partnership, initiated in 2021, emerged from SEA's Materials Matter initiative, aiming to reintegrate hands-on engagement with materials post-lockdown. Amidst digital curriculum shifts during the pandemic, students faced material limitations in their home studios. The collaboration with Midton provided access to recycled materials, fostering environmental literacy and enhancing material skills. This dynamic partnership not only empowered students to explore new dimensions but also encouraged Midton's team to embrace fresh perspectives. Experience the transformative impact this collective action had on students, staff, and industry professionals, highlighting environmental consciousness, material expertise, and how it enriched professional practices cultivated through this collaborative venture.

 

Resisting Growth and Profit – One Exchange at a Time

Breakout Session 2: Thursday 21 November 17:00 - 18:30
Falk Hübner, Heleen de Hoon, Fontys Academy of the Arts, Tilburg, Netherlands

Embark on a thought-provoking journey as this session unfolds the intricate relationship between artistic intelligence and complex social and societal issues. Artists have historically engaged with local and global contexts, providing unique perspectives through their practices. Artistic intelligence, in this context, offers a creative lens to navigate complex matters without seeking immediate solutions. Focusing on the economy, the session explores a collaborative project with the research group Economy as a Common and dance company The100Hands, titled ‘Exchange’. This participatory lecture performance challenges the economisation of life, aiming to reshape the narrative of growth and profit, one exchange at a time. Dive into the ongoing exploration of artistic research—collectively, participants will unravel the essence of ‘artistic intelligence at work’.

 

Issues-Based Arts Education: There Are No Others

Breakout Session 2: Thursday 21 November 17:00 - 18:30
Cormac Burmania, Inés Sauer, John Johnston, Joey Schrauwen, ArtEZ University of the Arts, Arnhem, Netherlands

ArtEZ's 'artist-educator' programmes foster issues-based learning in site-specific contexts, promoting socio-criticality and social change principles of equity and justice. The programmes uniquely blend artistic interventions and collaboration with local communities to facilitate dialogue and understanding across diverse perspectives. Emphasising both process and outcome in practice-led research, the approach embraces Site Specificity and Issues-Based Arts Education, requiring openness, compassion, and a 'moral imagination'—the capacity to envision solutions rooted in real-world challenges. The session will showcase two case studies. Case Study One delves into post-conflict Belfast, addressing intercultural dialogue, identity, and conflict prevention, illustrating programme evolution in a socially deprived area. Case Study Two explores Royal Burgers’ Zoo Arnhem, navigating ethical education amid conflicting perspectives on environmental measures in a rural region.

 

South Frictions: Speculative design narratives to achieve a plural world

Breakout Session 2: Thursday 21 November 17:00 - 18:30
Adan Farias, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia

In the dynamic landscape of contemporary art education, where artificial intelligence shapes fundamental practices, the session offers a pulsing opportunity to dissent and diverge into dystopian landscapes. Embracing a 'decomputing' perspective, it challenges conventional roles in design, reimagining the creative narrative in a decentralised structure. The presenter advocates artistic intelligence as a means to imagine discordantly, disrupting dominant creative narratives and empowering underrepresented voices. The session comprises a conference to share insight and a workshop, guiding participants to revisit their creative past, challenge inclusion in historical narratives, and sketch alternative design timelines. It aims to foster a pluralistic understanding of creativity, envisioning diverse futures in design practice and education.

 

Teach language as an ART

Breakout Session 2: Thursday 21 November 17:00 - 18:30
Susanne van Tongeren, Michiel Kole, Brahma T. Ramsodit, Patrick Jonkman, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Enschede, the Netherlands

Human language has a creative capacity. There is no other species that is capable of producing language with an aesthetic value. Language is part of our artistic intelligence. Yet, much of our education is focused on the functional side of language. Let’s teach language as an art form. Literature and poetry have historically played a significant role in driving change. We need to show students the power of language so they can use it to tell their stories. Being a good storyteller will allow them to articulate their ideas, complementing their visual art forms. This multidisciplinary approach can lead to unique artistic output, allowing these young artists to inspire action across diverse platforms to raise awareness about global challenges in compelling and influential ways. In this multidisciplinary performance, the Academic and the Spoken Word Artist will show you the possibilities of this artistic intelligence to engage in wicked world problems.

 

Try Out: ‘Beyond Dichotomies – Crafting a Holistic Framework for Academic Activism’

Breakout Session 3: Friday 22 November 09:00 - 11:00
Marc Boumeester, Bob Verheijden, Mara Joustra, Lucas Verweij, Marijke Meester, ArtEZ Academy of Art & Design, Zwolle, Netherlands

Embark on a session delving into a social movement gaining momentum, the imperative to replace the Anthropocene. Addressing the pragmatic question of what should replace it, the session highlights the intricate nature of the polycrisis and the need for a holistic outlook in decision-making. Our academy's initiatives, encompassing academic writing, holistic curriculum development, and interactions with participants, will be shared, emphasising our commitment to dismantling false dichotomies and gender-related binaries. The collective session format integrates elements such as academic writing, curriculum development, architectural design, and audience interaction. Through this interactive approach, we aim to fuel discussions on how art schools can respond to pressing concerns for the future state of societies and the planet. Join us in exploring innovative ways to navigate the challenges ahead and shape a more sustainable future.

 

Theatrum: Theatre event together created, experienced, and reflected

Breakout Session 3: Friday 22 November 09:00 - 11:00
Kateřina Jebava, Janácek Academy of Performing Arts, Brno, Czech Republic

Will you play with me? Spielst du mit? Zahrajem to? Vuoi giocare con me? Explore Theatrum.online in this hands-on presentation—a new digital handbook on theatre for education of young adults. Engage in an experimental session, delving into how the immersive world of performative art leaves a lasting impression on the minds and bodies of actors. Discover ways to share these experiences, fostering spaces for imagination, engagement, and spontaneous communities. Through playful interactions, participants will negotiate, create, and share theatrical situations, reflecting on the experience to raise poignant questions about the potential and limitations of integrating performing arts into education, social change, politics, intercultural dialogue, and the overall well-being of individuals.

 

To cook, to consume, to connect: Recipes for developing knowledges

Breakout Session 4: Friday 22 November 11:30 - 12:30
Sonja Spee, Bert Willems, Milan Gillard, PXL-MAD School of Arts Hasselt, Belgium
Els De Bruyn, Johan Pas, Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, Belgium

This session, presented at the ELIA conference on Artistic Intelligence, offers a fresh approach to knowledge acquisition, redefining its essence within artistic and academic realms. The focal point is connection—bridging alternative visions, diverse organisations, and individuals with varied roles and disciplines. Drawing on years of collaborative experience, the workshop centres around shared moments of trust-building. Participants engage in a unique activity: cooking and sharing soup around a long table adorned with embroidered statements, such as 'the school of arts should function as a garden (hortus) than as a campus (field).' This interactive meeting aims to generate discussions whose outcomes become part of the tablecloth, symbolising a collective vision of knowledge development. By using connection as a tool, the workshop strives to address the pressing need for unity in today's world.

 

Move! Let your body go with the flow!

Breakout Session 4: Friday 22 November 11:30 - 12:30
Adnan Balcinovic, Aurianne Chevandier, Fabian Fischer, University of Applied Arts Vienna, Austria

Explore the innovative realm of cross-disciplinary learning with the Cross-Disciplinary Capabilities Lab (CDCLab), a focal point of the Cross-Disciplinary Strategies Department's curriculum. This session offers a practical introduction to CDCLab, unveiling its evolution and inviting participants into a workshop that recreates a key method. The aim of the workshop is to bring in a concrete proposal for cross-disciplinary practices TO MOVE and KEEP MOVING. The session delves into overarching questions about the interplay between disciplines, discourses, and methods, encouraging a dialogue on the delicate balance between structure and fluidity. Attendees will gain insights into creating spaces that empower students to develop independent, cross-disciplinary practices, drawing on scientific and artistic research. This session will exemplify that, within numerous interdisciplinary approaches, there isn't a universally ‘correct’ answer to a given question.

 

An Emerging Artists’ Handbook: Clancy Quay Superprojects Artists’ Studio & Professional Development Programme

Breakout Session 4: Friday 22 November 11:30 - 12:30
Aoife Keogh, Finola McTernan, Rayne Booth, National College of Art and Design, Dublin, Ireland

The annual Clancy Quay studio residency award and Superprojects professional development programme, a groundbreaking collaboration between higher education, private enterprise, and the professional art world, emerges as a vital bridge for emerging artists transitioning from the National College of Art and Design, Ireland. Functioning as a co-created initiative, it addresses the uncharted space between art college and the professional art world. With a focus on the experiences of emerging artists, the programme provides a platform for fifteen fine art graduates from across Ireland, incorporating biweekly online and in-person sessions, workshops, mentoring, and gallery visits. The evolving programme collaborates with early and mid-career artists, curators, and professionals to guide participants, culminating in a handbook for emerging artists. The ELIA Biennial offers an opportunity for critical discussion, questioning, and mind mapping on key themes, enhancing the programme's international perspective through an interactive workshop.

 

CLUTTER: Fashion, Creativity and Collaboration

Breakout Session 4: Friday 22 November 11:30 - 12:30
Andrea Cammarosano, NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, Milan, Italy & Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, Belgium

Embark on a transformative journey with CLUTTER, a Milan-based creative studio founded in 2018 by a visionary fashion designer. Positioned as an extension of the fashion industry and education, CLUTTER's mission revolves around collaborative and co-creative initiatives. Their expansive network includes mills, manufacturers, brand designers, schools, universities, and public institutions, fostering projects that intertwine artistry, technical expertise, and social impact within the fashion landscape. Beyond higher education, CLUTTER addresses a critical challenge—the dropout rates in secondary technical and professional training. With a focus on at-risk youth, the studio collaborates with fashion and textile companies, youth centres, educators, and social housing communities to stimulate creativity, sociability, and collaboration. Join the session to explore innovative approaches that bridge the gap in fashion education, empowering vulnerable youth with skills, pride, autonomy, and self-fulfilment, thus fostering a more inclusive and diverse industry.