Speakers
Description
The European-funded project "Critical Arts Education for Sustainable Societies" (CARE/SS) (2022-2024) explores the role of arts in fostering sustainable societies and active citizenship among future generations. This presentation briefly summarises the background and initiatives of a postgraduate distance learning course in Visual Arts Education offered in the context of CARE/SS. The course’s philosophy challenges assumptions in art education to address contemporary social aims, emphasising sustainability, experiential learning, and community engagement. A case study highlights a trainee's critical pedagogical approach in a Special Needs School, collaborating with her students and other staff members to address students’ personal and societal issues, specifically the effects of trauma. Evidence from collaborative theatre production and artworks demonstrates enhanced sustainability competencies in the students. The implications underscore the impact on teachers' professional development and children's holistic development through experiential arts-based learning, emphasising emotional experiences over knowledge accumulation.
CV
Dr. Victoria Pavlou,
Professor of Art Education at Frederick University, Cyprus, focuses on the professional development of generalist teachers in art education, children's learning preferences, and creative potential. Passionate about changing attitudes and fostering resilience through art, she connects art with real-life issues and explores synergies between art education and sustainable development. Co-editor of the 'Art, Sustainability and Learning Communities. Call to Action' book (2024) and the 19.1 iJETA special issue (2023), she currently coordinates the European-funded project 'Critical ARts Education for Sustainable Societies' and previously led the project 'Visual arts education in new times: Connecting Art with REal life issues'.
Mrs Maria Karagiannopoulou,
a graduate in Literature (University of Ioannina, 2001) and Theatre Studies (University of Athens, 2017), holds master's degrees in Special Education and Curriculum and Instruction. With two decades of philological experience in the private sector and freelancing, she transitioned to public schools in 2019 as a theatre teacher, encompassing both special and formal education. Her diverse background includes serving as a dramaturgical consultant for Nea Group, editing for Theatre Topos Theatrou, and contributing to the edition of Laskaris Nikolaos' Monoplays (Fildisi Publications, Athens 2018). Maria seamlessly integrates her expertise in education, arts, drama and literature in her impactful career.
