Voices from Arts Education Practitioners and Thinkers from Across the World

“The arts, it has been said, cannot change the world, but they may change human beings who might change the world” – Maxine Greene

“When you explore through different art mediums, you in reality are exploring yourself.” – Shalaka Deshmukh, Art Educator, Mumbai

“When children engage in art, there are infinite right and unpredictable answers. When children and adults make art together, they are placed on the same level and can explore the unknown together.” – Lindsay Erben, Director, Arts Institute Middlesex County, New Jersey

“As the world continues to draw more closely together through technology, and, at the same time, experiences variations in perspectives and practices—political, economic, ecological—the arts can and do provide a common language and a means of celebrating similarities and bridging differences. Immersion in the arts, guided by practitioners knowledgeable in providing an equitable, inclusive space and championing creative freedom and decision-making, includes, but also goes well beyond the development of art skills. Children can create worlds through art-making and imagine the parameters and possibilities of a better world through their imaginations.” – Fran Van Horn, Non-Profit Arts Administrator, New York

“The excitement of a child when creating something new, the enjoyment of choosing colors and shapes, the sense of freedom of expressing herself in unconventional ways, the newfound sensitivity to beauty in search for inspiration, the pride of showing her art works to others—art education teaches children to use creativity in problem-solving and makes them aware of their power in making the world a better place.” – Eugenia Pietrogrande, Program Coordinator, IDLO, Africa

“Art education helps children to connect more deeply with the world around them and open them to new ways of seeing. When kids engage in the arts it improves motivation, concentration, confidence, and teamwork and also gains in math, reading, cognitive ability, critical thinking, and verbal skills.The process that the children go through in order to produce an artwork is in itself a vehicle which expresses a personal story or journey.” – Ridhi, Co-Founder, Swatantra Talim, Uttar Pradesh

“Visual arts merged with activism convey, empower, and impact people, and visual arts education is critical to teaching children and young people about one’s place in the world and to forging connections with other human beings and the planet. I love the versatility of visual arts as a medium to explain children’s fundamental human rights to the world at large.” – Dragica Mikavica, Senior Advocacy Adviser, Save the Children, New York

“I believe that every individual has an intrinsic and unique capability of art making. All it takes is trust, openness and intention on the part of the facilitator. The arts can provide for the process of exploration, expression and creation. Expression through the arts can be limitless and the process is full of learning.” – Ayushi Agrawal, Teacher and Arts-based facilitator, Rajghat Besant School, Varanasi

“The present times and the foreseeable future require that educators apply art in the classroom with the same rigor and zeal applied in all the STEM subjects. A robust art program at the K – 12 level helps in developing the soft/ life skills – the 4 Cs of 21st century – such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication in individuals which would help develop a well-balanced person – a “citizen of the world.” – Yasmeen Zahra Salman, PhD Scholar, AKU IED, Pakistan

“Art education invites children to the world of imagination and possibilities, which are fundamental building blocks to creativity, resilience and social emotional development. Art education empowers children to be agents of change as they embark on a journey of empathy through connection with materials and the world around them.” – Annabelle Tan, Museum Education Professional, Singapore

“Through art one can think differently, imagine, and create new possible realities. Art gives us wings, opens doors, transports us, transforms us. Understanding the power of this tool that we call art, its importance in education—both for children and adults—while putting it into practice, is a task that all educators must be committed to.” – Luisina Figueroa Garro, Designer & Educator, Argentina