Speakers
Description
Can we use art to improve the world and its social and environmental problems? To get closer to this somewhat exaggerated question, our panel will explore different principles and goals of sustainability and develop possibilities for art-based education for sustainable development. In times of climate crisis, the principle of sustainability is an important way of dealing with current global challenges. We will look specifically at how art teachers can be trained to deal with the challenges of sustainable development. On the theoretical side, particular attention will be paid to questions about the possible instrumentalisation of art and sustainable development for political or economic goals. With our different practical and academic perspectives, we will try to draw a broad picture of the relationship between art education and education for sustainable development. We would like to invite the panellists to discuss these transformative futures in art education with us.
CV
Marie Johanna Trautmann
has been a research assistant at the University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Germany, since 2018. She is writing her PhD on ambiguity as an approach to thinking and practicing art education in the climate crisis. In 2019-2020 she also worked in the education department of the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart. She studied art education and German language and literature at HBK and TU Braunschweig and at Chelsea College of Art and Design in London. Since 2024, she has also been an ambassador for the European Climate Pact.
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'.
Marc Fritzsche
has been Professor of Art Education at the University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Germany, since 2018. Prior to this, he worked as a teacher for eleven years and was a research assistant at the University of Giessen, where he wrote his doctoral thesis on interfaces in art education. For many years, he was head of the international department of the German Federal Association for Art Education, and has realised various exhibitions, lectures and publications in Germany and abroad.
Raphael Vella
is a full Professor of Art Education at the Faculty of Education, University of Malta, where he coordinates postgraduate degrees in Teaching and Learning Art and Social Practice Arts and Critical Education. His recent research and publications focus on socially engaged artistic practices and sustainability issues in art education. He has also written or co-edited various publications, including Artist-Teachers in Context: International Dialogues (Sense Publishers, 2016). He is also a practising visual artist and curator of contemporary art.
